Billboard for 'Reward' Torn Down Overnight; Another Film Boycotted by the Art House

The film 'Do Not Take Rewards from the President', previously titled 'Reward', directed by Kamal Tabrizi, has been released after 7 years of being banned, while the Art House cinemas have boycotted it, and one of its promotional billboards was torn down overnight. Kamal Tabrizi filmed 'Reward' in 2008. The initial screenplay was titled 'Do Not Take Rewards from the President' and was written by Reza Maqsoudi (writer of 'Lili is with Me') and Mohammad Rahmanian. The film was made and prepared under the name 'Reward' and after 7 years during its release, its original title 'Do Not Take Rewards from the President...' was reinstated. 'Reward' was banned during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first term. Mohammad Hosseini, the then Minister of Culture, stated in late January 2009 that 'when a film does not adhere to the criteria and values, it will definitely be banned, and we do not compromise or set aside the law in such cases.' Thus, with the Minister's statement, 'Reward' was banned for 7 years. The censorship issues of Kamal Tabrizi's film were so significant that it was said that to resolve misunderstandings, even parts of it needed to be re-shot to obtain a public screening permit. 'Reward' did not get permission to be shown during Ahmadinejad's second term either, despite some previously banned films like 'The Color of Pomegranate', 'Settlement', and 'Fireworker' being allowed to screen. However, in the eleventh government, Tabrizi's long-banned film finally had the opportunity to be shown for the first time and was screened for a select group of media personnel at the Ministry of Culture. After this private screening, sensitivities somewhat decreased, and the producer and distributor announced at various times that 'Reward' would be screened at an appropriate time. The year 2014 was not a good time for problematic films to be screened. On one hand, there were many controversies surrounding the screening of 'I Am Not Angry', and on the other hand, 'The Father's House' was pulled from the screen after a couple of days. However, in 2015, the Cinema Organization was determined to screen several films that had screening permits, and in turn, works like 'Tales' by Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami, 'Ghas' by Kiarash Asadizadeh, and 'Do Not Take Rewards from the President' by Kamal Tabrizi were screened. Additionally, two films made in 2014, 'Absolute Rest' by Reza Kahani and 'Amber Whale' by Saman Moghadam, which were previously thought to potentially cause some controversy upon release, were also screened in the first quarter of 2015. 'Reward' or 'Do Not Take Rewards from the President'; the main character of the story (played by Hasan Majuni) finds himself in a relatively similar and involuntary situation like in the films 'Lili is with Me' or 'Lizard' and is forced to pretend to do things that he does not enjoy to maintain his dignity and reputation. This film tells the story of a government manager who unwittingly goes on a pilgrimage and experiences unexpected events there, ultimately transforming. Some important scenes of 'Reward' were filmed during the Hajj ceremony, and during the film's production, rumors circulated about the son of a prominent Islamic Republic leader assisting Kamal Tabrizi and his crew for filming in Saudi Arabia. From boycott to billboard destruction, 'Reward' is the third film released in 2015 that has not had the opportunity to be screened in Art House cinemas and has been boycotted by this institution. Previously, the Art House cinemas across Iran had also refrained from showing the films 'Amber Whale' and 'Tales'. The torn billboard of the film 'Do Not Take Rewards from the President' in Tehran was reported by Khabar Online after the low-profile release and noise surrounding Tabrizi's banned film during Ramadan, especially with the announcement that some scenes had been re-shot. The report stated that the promotional billboard for this film at the intersection of Motahari and Mirza Shirazi streets in Tehran had been torn down, while the promotional teasers for 'Reward' are currently being aired on Iranian television. However, despite the release of 'Reward', Kamal Tabrizi still has another film under ban: 'Calm Streets'. This film was quietly filmed in Armenia in 2010, had a few limited screenings at the Fajr Festival that year, and was then banned for an indefinite period. The story of the film takes place in a fictional city and country; part of the police force in this city, in collusion with some government officials, arrests individuals, murders some, and generally creates insecurity. Another part of the police, managed behind the scenes by the first part, is pursuing the events and trying to establish security; a journalist (played by Niki Karimi) is also following the events and, given the severe censorship, tries to track the issues. Opponents of the film have labeled some of its references, such as the theft of statues in the city, nuclear energy production at home, and other events, as the director's mischief that indirectly aims to depict issues within Iran, especially events after the 2009 elections. Perhaps after the screening of 'Reward', the chances for 'Calm Streets' to be publicly screened will also open up.