Iman Pourgholizadeh, Young Filmmaker Arrested During 2021 Protests, Passes Away

Reports indicate that the lifeless body of Iman Pourgholizadeh, a young filmmaker who had previously been arrested during the 2021 protests, was found at his home. The House of Cinema, the guild of Iranian cinema, confirmed his death in a statement, stating that his funeral will be held on July 5 at the Artists' Section of Behesht Zahra. The statement did not mention the time or circumstances of Mr. Pourgholizadeh's death. ISNA news agency also reported that he 'passed away at home a few days ago.' Some reports, including those published on the Instagram page of 'Khan Cinema,' indicate that Iman Pourgholizadeh had been arrested twice. Posts shared on the Instagram accounts of this filmmaker and his sister, Elham Pourgholizadeh, confirm that he was arrested once in 2021 and again in 2012. The reason for his first arrest is unclear. Meanwhile, at the end of June, following reports about the death of Bahareh Lalehi, another young filmmaker, the head of the board of the Short Film Association of Iran, affiliated with the House of Cinema, called for an investigation into this incident. The Short Film Association of Iran demanded transparency regarding the 'suspicious' death of Bahareh Lalehi. Amir Toudarousta, in a letter to the CEO of the House of Cinema, identified Ms. Lalehi as a member of the Short Film Association of Iran and requested a 'real report' from security, police, and judicial authorities regarding the possibility of 'murder, death, or suspicious passing' of this filmmaker. Unconfirmed reports and narratives about Bahareh Lalehi's death have been published, but Radio Farda cannot independently verify any reports regarding the circumstances of her death. On June 26, the Iranian judiciary claimed that Bahareh Lalehi had no history of arrest and that investigations into the cause of her death are ongoing. Iman Pourgholizadeh was an editor and a member of the Association of Assistant Directors and Planners, one of the guilds of the House of Cinema. His works include assisting the director in the film 'The Last Queen of the Earth,' assisting in cinematography and lighting in the film 'And Again Love,' assisting the director in the film 'Earring,' and editing the short documentary 'Do Not Block the Door.'