Ahmadinejads special inspector chastises Minster of Culture and Islamic Guidance

Iran Press News: Translation by Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzzi.

Davood Ahmadinejad, the "presidential" special inspector chastised Safaar Harandi, the regimes own Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance regarding certain films that were chosen and permitted to be screened at this years Fajr Film Festival. Farda, Ahmadinejads own web site especially attacked the film OFFSIDE, directed by celebrated Iranian director, Jafar Panahi, [whose films Crimson Gold, The Circle and The White Balloon have received worldwide critical acclaim], demanding an explanation for the purpose of the presentation of such films. Harandi who received the chastisement in letterform, was reminded that he should take care not to make such unforgivable errors during his tenure as minister of the Ahmadinejad cabinet. READ MORE

OFFSIDE is a film about several girls from Tehran who try to get into the Azadi Sports Stadium to watch the soccer match between Iran and Bahrain.

No decision has been made as of yet, about the screening of this film in cinemas across the country however, it is said that the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has announced that a censured version may ultimately appear in theaters. At this juncture either various "experts" and ministry authorities may block the screening permit or Panahi himself may refuse to edit his own film to fit the guidelines of the regime.

Last week, the weekly Hezbollah tabloid, Ya Sarat'al-Hossein also condemned both the films of this year's Fajr Festival and Safaar Harandi.