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| (AFP/File, Rafa Rivas) |
Absent Iranian wins Cannes directing prize
CANNES, France — Iranian dissident Mohammad Rasoulof won the Cannes prize for best director in the Un Certain Regard section Saturday but could not attend because of "Kafkaesque" authorities at home.
Rasoulof's wife received the prize for "Be Omid e Didar" (Goodbye) on his behalf after mounting speculation about whether the director, who is appealing a lengthy jail sentence for making films, would be allowed to leave Iran.
"I thank the crew and those who helped this film get here, the festival and the jury," said Mrs Rasoulof, wearing a grey silk coat and with a loose headscarf over her hair.
The jury headed by Serbian director Emir Kusturica gave the award for the film which, ironically, tells the story of a young Tehran lawyer trying to get a visa to leave Iran.
