ICFR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER — #1-2024

Careful New Pathways in Tumultuous Times

Looking ahead to what 2024 needs from all of us
cases — funds — partnerships

Dear partners & supporters,

With our industry back in full swing in these early months of 2024, we want to express our deep gratitude for your continued support and affiliation over the course of 2023. A year that presented our organization and the world at large with harrowing developments and unprecedented challenges, rendering it increasingly difficult to notice and celebrate the little bits of good news sprinkled throughout.

In these new, quarterly dispatches, we would like to provide you with concrete updates on ICFR’s operations: what pressing cases are on our radar, what resources are we looking for, and what situations have been shifted in a positive direction? We continue to value your support, and we thank you for spreading visibility for our cases in your communities, for donating resources and funds to our organization, and for reaching out on behalf of filmmakers at severe and acute risk around the world.

Cases

Once again, we ask your urgent attention for some very difficult situations involving our dear colleagues in Turkey, Iran, Myanmar and the Philippines. As you are well aware, Turkish producer ÇIĞDEM MATER is still in prison in Turkey, with the second “anniversary” of her unconscionably disproportionate 18-year sentence coming up this April. We are currently involved in setting up a concerted effort around that time to advocate for Çiğdem with a strong, widely shared call across our industry. We welcome any and all contribution and participation in this.

In Myanmar, pioneer documentary filmmaker SHIN DAEWE has shockingly been sentenced to lifetime imprisonment, by a closed military tribunal at which she was allowed no legal representation, all because of the possession of a drone highly common for documentary filmmaking. We join Shin Daewe’s family in their concern for her health and well-being, and call on our network to amplify our attempt to pressure the Myanmar government to release her immediately.

In Iran, the following filmmakers are persecuted by the authorities and/or banned from traveling or making their films: MOHAMMAD RASOULOF, ZAHRA SHAFIEE DEHAGHANI, NAVID MIHANDOUST, as well as MARYAM MOGHADAM & BEHTASH SANAEEHA, whose film My Favourite Cake recently won two main prizes in this year’s Berlinale’s competition. While not able to attend the festival in person, the filmmakers took to the stage with a statement read by actor Lily Farhadpour.

In the Philippines, filmmaker JADE CASTRO has been detained without a warrant and is awaiting an unclear and compromised trial process in custody.

At the same time, we are thrilled and relieved to be able to share some good news as well. The following film colleagues have been released from unlawful incarceration, seen their travel bans lifted, or have otherwise been freed from acute risk, partly thanks to the industry’s advocacy. As this is our first quarterly newsletter, the following list is a summary of the past 24 months in which ICFR's advocating efforts have been involved.

• Moataz Abdelwahab (Egypt)
• Ma Aeint (Myanmar)
• Taraneh Alidoosti (Iran)
• Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorska (Belarus)
• Mojgan Ilanlou (Iran)
• Mina Keshavarz (Iran)
• Firouzeh Khosrovani (Iran)
• Hajooj Kuka (Sudan)
• Leila Naghdipari (Iran)
• Erhan Örs (Turkey)

Emergency Fund for Filmmakers

Between 2022-2023, ICFR became a crisis focal point to support the urgent basic life needs of film professionals in Ukraine, with donations contributed directly by many of our partners, film institutions and colleagues.

Through the Emergency Fund for Filmmakers (EFF), graciously sponsored by institutional and individual donors across our network, we were able to support 652 applicants with micro-grants (ranging between 500 and 1500 euros each). Grants have been used for relocation costs, urgent medical treatments, legal support and other immediate life needs for the applicants and their co-dependents.

We are currently distributing the last of our available funds to eligible applicants, after which we will evaluate the fund’s process and explore whether such a resource is something ICFR can incorporate in its core activities in the future. Nevertheless, the urgency of such a fund is always palpable, as is the gratitude expressed by its recipients: “Once again, thank you for your tireless support of Ukrainian filmmakers. It helps us stay afloat and continue to work, no matter what.”

Partnerships & affiliations

In order to effectively coordinate the response to filmmakers in need, our strategic partners — professional film networks, publicity agencies, affiliated NGO’s, International human rights networks or ambassadors — are essential.

• call for new partners, both monetary and in-kind
• affiliations with resources to share (see our brand-new Resources page)
• invite us to your festivals
• inform us directly of filmmakers at acute risk around the world

No matter the shape, scope or frequency of your support, we thank you wholeheartedly for your contribution to our mission to protect filmmakers around the world from the harm inflicted on them for the art they make and the stories they tell. In this new year, please do not waver in your commitment, as the world appears to need our efforts more than ever before.

Warm regards,
The ICFR team

The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk