Mexico City.- Kristen Stewart joined Iranian filmmakers in a show of solidarity with Iran’s “Women, Life, Freedom” protests on the red carpet of the Berlin Film Festival.
Stewart, who this year is president of the international jury, accompanied Holy Spider actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, The Siren director Sepideh Farsi, and actress Golshifteh Farahani and 50 Iranian professionals who participated in the event, Deadline reported.
Festival co-directors Carlo Chatrian and Mariëtte Rissenbeek also joined the rally to flank Stewart at the photo call.
The demonstration came after popular protests broke out, sparked by the killing in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September.
The festival also held a panel discussion on the role of cinema and art in the ongoing popular revolution on Saturday, featuring Tehran-born actress Ebrahimi, who was forced to flee Iran in 2008.
He said he felt that the filmmaking community that was still based in the country was becoming increasingly bold in its willingness to challenge the hardline Iranian government even though it entailed great risks.
“They just give up their fear. They want to be a part of something important. They want to do something without censorship, without government control, and that costs them their careers in Iran and it can cost them their lives,” he said.
And as an example, he told how his Holy Spider co-star Mehdi Bajestani had been unable to return home to Iran after traveling to Cannes for the world premiere, while others returned but have been prevented from working.
“He got stuck in Europe. Now it’s too dangerous for him to come back. Our editor, our sound engineer and my assistant, can’t work.”
