Cannes Festival jury sends message to Iranian authorities by awarding prize to film co-scripted by Roxana Saberi

Reporters Without Borders hails the special jury prize which the Iranian film “No One Knows About Persian Cats” was awarded today in the “Un Certain Regard” section of the Cannes Film Festival. Co-scripted by the recently released Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, it opened this section of the festival on 14 May. “By singling out this film, the jury has deliberately sent a clear message to the Iranian authorities, who have banned it from being screened,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The award also sends a message of support for free expression to Iran’s independent musicians. There should be no restrictions on the screening of ‘No One Knows About Persian Cats’ in Iran.” Filmed clandestinely in Iran and directed by Bahman Ghobadi, the movie shows Tehran’s underground music scene and tells the stories for two young musicians who try to form a band in order to play in a festival in Europe. All musical performances and productions in Iran need permission from the culture ministry. Many music genres are banned. The film reveals a different side of the Iranian capital, one that is little known. Ghobadi, has described it has a “cry against the status quo.” Released from a Tehran prison on 11 May after spending 100 days in detention, Saberi arrived today in the United States. She was arrested in Tehran on 31 January and given an eight-year prison sentence on a charge of spying for the United States. It was finally reduced to a two-year suspended sentence on appeal.