TEHRAN, Sep. 6 (Mehr News Agency) -- As countdown has begun for the 12th Iran Cinema Celebration, renowned female filmmaker of Iranian cinema Tahmineh Milani canceled her membership in the jury of the gala.

The withdrawal took place following the removal of some films submitted to the celebration, which is annually held by the House of Cinema that works as trade union of Iranian cineastes.
 

Tehmineh Milani, Iran's Fearless Film Maker

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In a letter sent to the celebration secretary on Friday, Milani announced her decision on the abandonment, saying, "This house is beautiful, but it's not mine."

"I withdraw from the jury to show my objection to removal of the films belonging to Iran's cinema family," she added.

A number of films were pulled out from among the movies scheduled to be judged for the celebration after President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's art advisor, Javad Shamaqdari, criticized the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance for its negligence about the participation of the films lacking the ministry's screening license.

In order to filter the works being produced in the Iranian entertainment industry, filmmakers have been obliged to obtain production and screening licenses for their works from the culture ministry.

Milani said that the Iran Cinema Celebration should be different from the Fajr Film Festival, which is Iran's governmental event for motion picture industry.

Milani was one of 110 jury members for this year's Iran Cinema Celebration commemorating September 12 as Iranian National Cinema Day. However, this year's celebration will be held on September 15 due to its coincidence with a religious occasion.

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