Iran's new cinema chief pledges to ease restrictions on film-making

TEHRAN, Oct 24 (Wire services) - Iran's new cinema chief has pledged to ease stifling restrictions on the Islamic republic's prolific film industry and try to lift bans previously slapped on many movies.

Seifollah Dad, a professional film director, also promised to get rid of bureaucracy in the culture ministry's cinema department to make it "more cultural and responsible."

Dad, aged in his 50s, was assigned to his post in August by moderate new Culture Minister Ataollah Mohajerani. His appointment came as a relief to many filmmakers struygling under severe restrictions formerly imposed by the powerful ministry of culture and Islamic guidance.

Dad told the Hamshahri newspaper on Thursday he would try to lift bans on many movies outlawed by previous administrations for failing to follow Islamic guidelines. "If the film-makers have not intentionally broken the law or are willing to correct their mistake, we will authorise the release of their movies," he said.

Dad has made several films on the Iran-Iraq war and an anti-Israeli movie called Bazmandeh (Survivor), the first Iranian film in which actresses did not wear the Islamic headscarves obligatory in Iran.

Under Islamic regulations, female actresses have to have their hair covered, directors cannot use close-ups of female faces, men and women are not allowed to touch and there can be no criticism of religion.

The official made no comments about Western films, which are generally banned in Iran although anti-US establishment films are occasionally shown although censored.

Nevertheless, Iranian film buffs are able to access popular Hollywood films smuggled into the country and videotaped illegally although they are often of poor quality.

Dad also supported the participation of Iranian movies in foreign festivals, where many Iranian movies have won laurels in recent years.

"Wherever we see with pride our national flag raised it is a cause for celebration -- no matter who makes the movie," he said. "The presence of these movies in foreign festivals has changed the views of other countries towards our people."

The participation of Iranian movies in foreign festivals has been a contentious issue with charges by Islamic hardliners that Western juries are politically motivated, seeking to honor movies which reflect the darker side of the Islamic republic.

"We should not send a movie to a foreign festival just because it has a chance of winning, but because it represents our revolution and Islamic culture," said the conservative newspaper Resalat, reacting to a decision here to nominate Mohsen Makhmalbaf's internationally-acclaimed "Gabeh" for the next Oscar.

"Gabeh may be a poetic work, but it says nothing about our revolutionary ideals and Islamic values. The movie suits the taste of Europeans and Americans, who have always been after a dark and ugly image of Islamic Iran," the newspaper added.

Faced with such pressure, Iranian authorities have in the past made arbitrary decisions in allowing or banning a movie from taking part in a Western festival.

Dad's predecessor, Ezatollah Zarqami, was instrumental in the initial ban on a movie by renowned Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami at the Cannes film festival in May.

The authorities later released "The Taste of Cherries" and the movie shared the Golden Palm award at Cannes with a Japanese film.

Dad also said he would ease "senseless" restrictions on the export of Iranian movies because it would "boost Iran's cultural reputation and bring in hard currency."

In August, the culture ministry barred filmmakers from letting their films be screened abroad without permission after several Iranian movies were shown at the Jerusalem film festival.

Iran's new President Mohammad Khatami has stressed his opposition to "any form of cultural repression" and has called for more openness.

Dad said some 60 Iranian movies made each year were no longer required to be shown at the state-sponsored Fajr festival, held each February on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, before being allowed to be screened for general public viewing.

Dad also vowed to crack down on red tape within his department. If officials "cause less trouble for people they will have less trouble themselves," he told "If rules of law are institutionalized, there will be less arbitrary decisions."

Related links

* Text of above interview in Hamshahri (in Persian)
* Iran News
* Complete list of Iranian online media