Manijeh Hekmat: In this 'bitter and dark era,' I did not succumb to humiliation for the sake of daily life and I will not do so.

Manijeh Hekmat, an Iranian film director, reacted on Tuesday, February 12, to the controversies surrounding the closing ceremony of the Fajr Film Festival, stating: "I am happy and fortunate that in this bitter and dark era, I did not succumb to humiliation for the sake of daily life and I will not do so." This banned filmmaker in Iran, in a note published on social media, referred to a mispronounced prayer by Mohammad Khazaei, the head of the Cinema Organization, during the festival's closing ceremony, adding: "It has been twenty-eight years since the establishment of Bamdad Film Company and at least forty years since my presence in cinema. In the past few days, I closed Bamdad Film Company and the office was emptied for rent to cover the minimum living expenses. I removed all the awards I had received from around the world from the walls, leaving the nails behind, which also indicate your management of the collection." Hekmat further wrote: "The various marks left by the nails and walls create an image of the crucifixion of cinema and culture and art in this land, and I know well which side of history I have stood on in these past years, and I am happy and fortunate that in this bitter and dark era, I did not succumb to humiliation for the sake of daily life and I will not do so." This prominent Iranian director also wrote: "You and your supporters may be happy that this era, more bitter than poison, will pass, and we, backed by our great filmmakers such as Nasser Taghvaei, Dariush Mehrjui, Bahram Beyzai, Abbas Kiarostami, and countless true cultural and artistic figures, stand firm on our professional commitment and honor." After supporting the Iranian people and protesting women, in Esfand 1401 (February 2023), she announced that work, transactions, and leaving the country were banned for her. At that time, she declared on her social media accounts that she was ill and had undergone three surgeries. Hekmat also introduced herself as a "former director and producer of cinema" and sarcastically wrote to the responsible authorities: "Brothers, please pay the rent and medical expenses; I have reached the end of the line." Pegah Ahangarani, a well-known Iranian actress, is also Manijeh Hekmat's daughter and last year removed her mandatory hijab in solidarity with the protests in Iran. Concurrent with the nationwide protests in 1401 (2022) following the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in the custody of the morality police, artists including Hengameh Ghaziani, Katayoun Riahi, Shabnam Farshadjou, Shiva Ebrahimi, Maryam Bobani, Sharareh Dolatabadi, Masoumeh Ghasemipour, Anahita Hemmati, Maryam Palizban, Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, Pegah Ahangarani, and Taraneh Alidoosti publicly removed their hijabs, many of whom were arrested and later almost all were banned from working.