Iranian Filmmaker Withdraws from Indian Film Fest. Jury in Opposition at Israel

By Rizwan Khatik - Wed Dec 07, 2:24 pm

An Iranian Film director Tahmineh Milani has stepped down as a judge at an international film festival following the appointment of an Israeli filmmaker to the judges panel.

In a letter earlier this week Milani explained, “Any committed individual disapproves of Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and there is no doubt over my sympathy for the people of Palestine.”

Milani was among the five-member jury of IFFI, which began on November 23. IFFI organizers though claimed that Milani has not refused to take duties of jury member.

She said in her letter that renowned names in the list of the invitees fascinated her so much that she did not originally notice that an Israeli had also been invited to the jury.

“When I received the list of the jury members, I accepted the invitation. Names of Lee Yong Kwan from Korea and Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier encouraged me the most to attend the program to become more closely familiar with the opinions of these famous filmmakers,” Milani wrote in her letter.