Short Film Association of Cinema House Calls for Clarification Regarding the 'Suspicious' Death of Bahareh Lalehi

Following reports about the 'killing' of Bahareh Lalehi, a director and producer of short and documentary films, in the prisons of the Islamic Republic, the chairman of the board of the Short Film Association of Iran, affiliated with the Cinema House, called for an investigation into this incident. Amir Tudeh Roosta, in a letter dated Tuesday, June 11, addressed to the CEO of the Cinema House, introduced Ms. Lalehi as a member of the Short Film Association of Iran and requested a 'real report' from security, law enforcement, and judicial authorities regarding the possibility of 'murder, suspicious death, or passing' of this filmmaker. He emphasized that the members of the Short Film Association of the Cinema House are 'insistently' demanding 'follow-up and clarification' regarding the circumstances of Bahareh Lalehi's death. Previously, unverified reports and narratives about Bahareh Lalehi's death had been published, but Radio Farda cannot independently confirm any of the reports regarding the circumstances of her death. Published reports indicate that this filmmaker, born in Amol and residing in Karaj, was arrested during the protests of 1401. According to information on the website of the Center for the Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema, she was one of the directors of the series 'Asrabad,' produced by Mohammad Reza Aslani in 2009. She also had a history of membership in the Short Film Jury Academy of the Cinema House and several times served as a juror at festivals held by the Young Cinema Society of Iran. The website of the Young Cinema Society of Iran states that she had written, directed, and produced several short films.