Source:Mehr News Agency
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Fatemeh Gudarzi |
Iranian actress Fatemeh Gudarzi has repudiated
signing any agreement for membership on the jury of the 28th Fajr International
Film Festival despite the official announcement.
The organizers of the festival, which is Iran's most important cinematic and
cultural event of the year, announced Wednesday that Gudarzi is one of seven
members of the festival jury.
"I am surprised by the announcement that I have been selected as one of the jury
members since I left Tehran two weeks ago on a trip," Gudarzi told the Persian
service of the Fars News Agency on Thursday.
She previously rejected the festival's
invitation to be on the jury ten days ago, she said.
Festival
secretary Mehdi Masudshahi said on Thursday that the all members except Gudarzi
have attended the jury sessions.
"Despite an initial agreement, Mrs. Fatemeh Gudarzi was absent from the sessions
and this is not acceptable," he stated.
According to Masudshahi, no one will replace Gudarzi on the jury, which consists
of six minor cineastes.
Festival organizers have been troubled by
refusals of Iranian cineastes to serve on the jury.
Gudarzi along with actor Ezzatollah Entezami, screenwriters Minu Farshchi and
Farhad Tohidi, director Asghar Farhadia and filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami declined
serving on the jury and gave various reasons for their refusals.
The Jury
The negative responses were taken as a snub by
analysts as a number Iranian artists called for a boycott of the Fajr theater
and film festivals.
Several recognized international artistic personalities have withdrawn their
films from the festival in response to the calls.
British director Ken Loach, French film director Philippe Lioret, Greek art
house director Theo Angelopoulos and Palestinian film director Elia Suleiman are
observing the boycott.
... Payvand News - 01/29/10 ... --
