CANNES FILM FESTIVAL - BANGKOK YANKS IRANIAN FILM AFTER PROTEST BY IRANIAN OFFICIALS

A controversial animated film by two Iranian filmmakers that drew complaints from Iranian officials when it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival last month -- but nevertheless went on to win the Jury Prize -- has been removed from the Bangkok Film Festival. The film, Persepolis, directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, which tells the story of a nine-year-old girl growing up in Iran under fundamentalist restraints, had been expected to open the festival on July 19. However, Chattan Kunjara na Ayudhya of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which is sponsoring the festival, said today (Wednesday) that he was asked to meet with officials at the Iranian embassy about the film "and we both came to mutual agreement that it would be beneficial to both countries if the film was not shown." Chattan did not indicate how Thailand would benefit from the decision to withdraw the film, saying only, "It is a good movie in artistic terms, but we have to consider other issues that might arise here." Kiriangsak Silakong, the festival's chief programmer, appeared upset over the censorship, telling the Bangkok newspaper The Nation, "It's too bad Thai people won't be able to see this film." And Reuters led off its report on the development by commenting, "Thailand has caved in to pressure from Iran...."

27/06/2007