Minister: Cinema House To Be Re-opened Through Legal Path

Tehran, Aug 19, IRNA – Minister of culture and Islamic guidance mentioned Cinema House’s occupational significance for cinematographers, saying here Sunday that the foundation must be reopened through observing legal measures, on which I stress. According to IRNA, the new Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ali Jannati, who was speaking with the press reporters at the end of the 11th government’s 1st cabinet meeting said that there are certain disputes among various groups of cinematographers. He added, “In order to resolve those disputes and move abiding by the laws we need to take the necessary steps and reopen the Cinema House at the earliest possible time.” The former Iranian government authorities stated that the Iranian Alliance of Motion Picture Guilds, known as the Cinema House, was shut down because of secret amendments to its charter. The house had said they had prepared the new charter after a meeting with the president, but the ministry of culture, in charge of cinema, didn’t seem to want things to happen. The former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the final days of his term called for doors of the cinema to be reopened. The President has made orders, but to this day they have not been met because of the problems created by the ministry, the chairman of the old Cinema House, Farhad Tohidi Said. To date there has been a battle between the ministry in charge and this small, but famous alliance of film-makers made up of Oscar winning directors, UN-good-will ambassadors, and renowned artists. Tohidi added, “They tried to put another group in charge of the Cinema House, so the presidential decree will not be delayed, but there are vast differences from that house of cinema to this one.” Also a renowned screenwriter, he said “Great differences still remain in place and you can see that from the two demonstrations that took place one in front of the Ministry and the other in front of the Cinema House.” In recent months a similar organization popped up by the ministry just to meet the presidential order in time, but the move was challenged in court. Supporters and members of the new group have recently held a protest in front of the ministry; they say it’s a house for all. Habib Allah Kasesaz, Chairman of the New Cinema House told a demo in Tehran that, “Every union has a vote; their union heads are all the same to us whether it is the union of directors, artists or the cinema suppliers union.” Kasesaz added, “Everybody that works for Irans cinema is of importance to us, and our effort in this new house is for all unions to be there.” Courtesy: Press TV for the background on Cinema House/end