Banned in Iran, Denied a U.K. Visa: Mohsen Amiryousefi’s Film About Banned Films Heads to London
Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Amiryousefi’s The Banning Curse will have its world premiere at the 70th BFI London Film Festival, though he and editor Kamy Saffari were denied UK visas and cannot attend. The film matters as a satirical reflection on censorship and the obstacles facing radical filmmaking in Iran, drawing on Amiryousefi’s own career.
Shot indoors without permits or a large budget, the film blends autobiography, fiction and archival footage, and features the Angel of Death, a recurring figure in Amiryousefi’s work. His first feature, Bitter Dream, received a Cannes award, but his films have been banned in Iran; he says online spaces and streaming can still help audiences there find them, and remains hopeful about future releases.
- Amiryousefi’s film premieres in London without its director.
- UK visa applications by the director and editor were rejected.
- The film satirises censorship and the filmmaker’s career.
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Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Amiryousefi has made films that have been barred from screening in Iran. His work often uses satire to explore censorship and the limits placed on filmmakers. His first feature, Bitter Dream, received an award at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Banning Curse mixes elements of his life with fiction and archive footage, and includes the Angel of Death, a figure that appears in several of his films. It was made indoors without filming permits or a large budget. Its subject is the difficulties of making and finding films that challenge restrictions in Iran.
Amiryousefi has said that online platforms and streaming services can help people in Iran watch films that cannot be shown in cinemas. His experience is part of the story the film draws on.