Statement from Hundreds of Global Filmmakers Condemning the Bloody Suppression of the People of Iran by the Islamic Republic

More than 800 figures from the global film industry, including Oscar-winning actors and directors such as Marion Cotillard, Juliette Binoche, and Yorgos Lanthimos, issued a joint statement condemning the actions of the Islamic Republic against protesters in Iran as "organized crime against the people." The statement, signed by a group of Iranian and international filmmakers, reads: "With anger, sorrow, and a sense of moral responsibility, we condemn the organized crimes of the Islamic Republic of Iran against protesting citizens in the strongest terms." The text emphasizes that the Iranian government has resorted to "brutal repression, direct shooting at people, widespread arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and nationwide internet shutdowns" instead of listening to the voices of protesters. Among the Iranian signatories are Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, Golshifteh Farahani, Sepideh Farsi, and Shirin Neshat. International figures include names such as Naftali Bennett, Tariq Saleh, Lawrence Bender, Dominique Moll, Claire Simon, Florian Zeller, Judith Godrèche, and Ariane Labed. The signatories have called on cultural institutions and international film festivals to reconsider their official relations with the Iranian government and to support "the struggle of the people of Iran for freedom, human dignity, and fundamental rights." This statement comes at a time when widespread protests in Iran have faced extensive internet shutdowns and bloody crackdowns, with human rights organizations reporting thousands killed and tens of thousands injured or arrested. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, in an interview with Hollywood Reporter, noted the recent violence, stating: "Repression in Iran is not a new phenomenon, but this time we are witnessing mass killings. The violence that has occurred will leave a deep wound on the collective memory of the Iranian people." The filmmakers' statement is one of the largest reactions from the global film community in solidarity with the people of Iran since the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement in 2022. The nationwide protests that began on December 27 have been met with bloody crackdowns in dozens of cities. CBS News estimates the number of victims to be between 12,000 and 20,000, while the Iran Human Rights Organization has confirmed at least 3,400 deaths. While the internet blackout has lasted for 14 days and communication between Iran and the outside world remains largely cut off, international organizations have warned that this deliberate policy is an attempt to conceal the extent of the massacre of protesters and prevent citizens from accessing information. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has repeatedly expressed his explicit support for Iranian protesters in recent weeks, warning of the massacre of protesters by the Islamic Republic and its repressive apparatus, stating that if protesters are executed, the United States will take "very decisive actions." Following these warnings to the Islamic Republic, President Trump on Friday, January 26, thanked the cancellation of planned executions in Iran in a message on his Truth Social account. However, on Saturday, January 27, he told Politico that the "Ayatollah" is guilty for "completely destroying his country" and that "it is time to seek new leadership in Iran." He stated regarding Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, that "his guilt as a leader of a country is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before." He added: "For the country to continue functioning, even if this performance is at a very low level, leadership must focus on properly managing its country - just as I do with the United States - and not kill thousands to maintain its dominance."