01:01 AM Saturday 07 October 2023
Books – Marwan Al-Tayeb:
Iranian security authorities announced that they have prevented Iranian producer Elah Nobakht from traveling outside the country or attending any events or film festivals because of her documentary film “Gate of Dreams.”
The Variety website report revealed that Nobakht, who is considered a member of the board of directors of the Iranian Producers Association and the Iranian Documentary Film Producers Association, was suspended by the security authorities after she returned from a recent screening of the film in Portugal.
Her passport, computer, and mobile phone were confiscated, which her assistant revealed, and that he was not aware of what was going on and was awaiting the results of the investigations. The ban decision meant that the Iranian producer was unable to travel to the Apricot Tree Film Festival in Armenia, where she was chosen as a member of the jury.
News of the Iranian producer being banned from traveling appeared on Friday, the same day as the announcement that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize would be awarded to the Iranian activist and actress, Narges Mohammadi, who is currently imprisoned for defending women’s rights in Iran.
The events of the film “Gate of Dreams” revolve around a personal journey to the combat zone in northern Syria, amidst questions about what it means to be a woman alone with her camera. A number of women who embody female strength and freedom, including Kurdish fighters, are interviewed and about the cost of equality and freedom in these difficult circumstances. .
The film was shown internationally for the first time at the Berlin International Film Festival in its last session and was nominated for the “Crystal Bear” award as best film at the event.
