Countdown to the Start of the Berlinale Under the Shadow of Politics; Possibility of Two Iranian Filmmakers Not Attending Due to Government Pressure

The 74th Berlin International Film Festival, known as the Berlinale, will open on Thursday, February 15 (26 Bahman) in Germany. This year, works by several prominent filmmakers from around the world will be screened at this artistic event, and the festival's red carpet will witness the presence of well-known figures, including Hollywood stars. The film industry hopes that the grand celebration of the Berlin Festival will help forget the bitter memories of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Hollywood strike, which disrupted the production of many films. The Berlinale will also address political issues, including the war in Gaza, cultural repression in Iran, and the rise of the far-right in Germany, and such topics may significantly influence the atmosphere of the Berlinale, which is the first major cinematic event of the year in Europe. Scott Roxborough, head of the European office of 'Hollywood Reporter,' told AFP: 'The Berlin Festival has historically focused on global politics; for instance, last year it addressed the war in Ukraine.' He added that the war in Gaza is likely to be a focal point this year and could polarize the festival's atmosphere. According to Roxborough, a few filmmakers have canceled their screenings at the Berlinale in protest against the German government's support for Israel. Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaeiha, two young Iranian filmmakers, have been banned from leaving the country by the Islamic Republic, and their potential absence from the festival is another controversial topic that reflects the ongoing cultural repression in Iran. Their film 'My Favorite Cake,' which is featured in the main competition section of the festival, focuses on the restrictions imposed by the Islamic Republic on Iranian women, provoking anger from government officials. Recently, the Berlinale issued a statement calling for the lifting of restrictions against Sanaeiha and Maqdami. This artistic couple has been banned from leaving the country on charges of 'propaganda against the regime and actions against national security.' The statement emphasized that the Berlinale is a festival committed to freedom of expression, opinion, and art for all people worldwide, expressing shock and disappointment over the inability of these two Iranian filmmakers to travel to Germany to showcase their film and connect with audiences in Berlin. Somayeh Haqnegahdar, a documentary filmmaker and member of the Independent Filmmakers Association of Iran, expressed regret over the issues faced by this couple and their cinematic colleague, stating to Voice of America: 'The Islamic Republic has long sought to control and censor artists, particularly filmmakers, through pressure; such control and censorship have often led to the official or unofficial banning of filmmakers from working and, in some cases, forced them to leave their country.' Haqnegahdar noted: 'Specifically, after the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, the Islamic Republic has taken clear and extensive actions to threaten, arrest, and suppress filmmakers whom they do not consider aligned with the regime's demands. There has been increased control over produced works, and the banning of many filmmakers from leaving the country continues this control and repression.' Marit Reissenbeek and Carlo Chatrian, the festival directors, faced a hot topic this year when they invited five representatives from the far-right Alternative Party to attend the opening ceremony. Following widespread protests, especially from filmmakers, the Berlinale was compelled to rescind the invitation to these representatives. The festival directors cited the representatives' 'anti-Semitic,' 'Islamophobic,' and 'hateful' remarks as the reason for the invitation's cancellation. This year's festival presents an attractive collection of fantasy, sci-fi, and new wave African cinema. Cillian Murphy, Kristen Stewart, Adam Sandler, and Gael García Bernal are among the prominent actors presenting their new works at the Berlinale. Lupita Nyong'o, the Kenyan-Mexican actress, is the head of the jury for the main competition section of the festival, making her the first Black jury president in the festival's history. The honorary Golden Bear of the Berlin Festival will be awarded to Martin Scorsese for a lifetime of artistic achievement, following his recent success with the film 'Killers of the Flower Moon.' This report incorporates information from AFP and the Berlin Film Festival website.