From House Arrest in Iran, Jafar Panahi Premieres "Closed Curtain" in Berlin

Yesterday the defiant Iranian director Jafar Panahi premiered his new film "Closed Curtain" at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival. Despite the 20-year filmmaking ban imposed on him in 2010 by the Iranian government, the film is taking part in the festival's official competition. He was also sentenced to six years in prison, but has been serving his time under house arrest for the past few years. Needless to say, Panahi was unable to attend his own screening.

The film's co-director Kamboziya Partovi, a longtime partner of Panahi's, and its star Maryam Moghadam were able to attend and held a press conference there, answering questions about the film as well as the director's well being, both political and psychological. Partovi told the press, "Nothing has happened up until now... we do not know what the future holds for us."

Partovi added, "It's difficult to work, but not being able to work is even more difficult, and especially when you are at the height of your career. You become depressed, and I believe this is shown in the film and it comes through."

The festival's management made an appeal to the Iranian authorities to let the 52-year-old director attend, but it went unanswered. The festival issued a formal apology expressing their regret that Jafar Panahi was unable to attend.

"Closed Curtain" is the second film he's made in defiance of the ban, following 2011's "This is Not a Film," which was reportedly smuggled out of the country on a USB drive hidden inside a cake.

"Closed Curtain" is competing against 18 other films for the top prize, the Golden Bear, which will be awarded on Saturday.