ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi Thursday opened the fourth edition of its international film festival with the latest work of an outspoken Iranian filmmaker who was freed on bail after three months in an Iranian jail. “The Accordion”, by Jafar Panahi, is a short film shot in Tehran that recounts the adventures of two young street musicians who can no longer play after an incident in which their instrument was confiscated. Panahi, 50, went on a hunger strike to protest at the conditions of his detention after his March 1 arrest and was released from Tehran's Evin prison on May 25 after posting bail of two billion rials ($200,000). The nature of the charges were not detailed. A vocal backer of Iran's opposition movement, Panahi, was arrested at his home along with 16 other people, including his wife and daughter. Most were subsequently released. Culture Minister Mohammad Hosseini said in April that Panahi was detained for making an “anti-regime” film about the unrest that rocked Iran after last year's disputed re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The festival's organizers, meanwhile, described the screening of Panahi's film as “an initiative in support of free speech and open-mindedness”. However, the official opening of the festival was with the film Secretariat by Randall Wallace which tells the story of a horse that won the Triple Crown in 1973. Among the stars attending the event Thursday were Adrien Brody, known for his role in “The Pianist” and British star Clive Owen. The oil-rich Gulf emirate's festival is the most richly endowed among its regional rivals, with “Black Pearl” awards for each category worth nearly $1 million (724,000 euros) altogether. These include best new narrative film, best new narrative film from the Arab world, best new documentary, best new documentary from the Arab world, best documentary, best documentary from or about the Arab world, best narrative film and best narrative film from the Arab world. This year, however, another category was added. New Horizons is a selection of 17 documentaries by young filmmakers presenting their works for the first time. Organizers of the Abu Dhabi festival created the “Sanad” fund last year to support and develop movie production. The fund, which pays subsidies ranging from $20,000 to 6$0,000 (14,400 to 43,300 euros), is aimed at “supporting the new currents in the Arab cinema and encouraging artistic creativity”, said Peter Scarlett, the festival's executive director. – Agence France
