[Una storia  – qui raccontata da Emiliano Scalia/S4C come tante altre, purtroppo. Un ragazzo iraniano fuggito dal regime e che ha letteralmente messo la sua faccia alla protesta di piazza che ha infiammato mezzo mondo non troppo tempo fa (purtroppo se ne parla sempre meno, ed è per questo che S4C che se ne occupa adesso).  Il Regime gli ha mandato a dire che se rimetterà piede in Iran verrà arrestato. Oggi noi non solo lo pubblichiamo ma lo supportiamo e chiediamo a quegli stessi signori: che fate? Se veniamo tutti lì, ci arrestate tutti? Antonio Amendola]

(testo e foto di Emiliano Scalia/S4C) – cliccare qui per la gallery –

Morix Lessan ha 29 anni e tenta di essere un uomo libero.

(clicca qui per la gallery)

L’Iran di oggi è un paese incompiuto, sospeso tra una classe dirigente schiava dei Pasdaran e una generazione che, pur volendo liberarsi, non riesce a trovare un leader.

Morix Lessan ha 29 anni e non può tornare nel suo Paese.

Si è esposto, dopo le elezioni ha chiamato a raccolta la comunità iraniana senza nascondere il suo volto. Gli hanno fatto sapere che, appena rimetterà piede a Tehran, sarà arrestato.

Morix Lessan ha 29 anni, studia belle arti.

Per vivere dipinge acquerelli che vende per le strade del centro, anche se in Iran era un ottimo ceramista.

Morix Lessan ha 29 anni e prova ad avere una vita normale dentro un’anormalità che non vuole diventi la norma.

Morix Lessan ha 29 anni.
E’ un uomo.

Emiliano Scalia/S4C

——-

Morix Lessin is 29 (story and photos by Emiliano Scalia/S4C)

Morix Lessan is 29 years old and he’s trying to be a free man.

(click here to see the gallery)

Iran now is an unfinished country, poised between a ruling class slave of Pasdaran and a generation that altough wills to free himself, cannot find a leader.

Morix Lessan is 29 years and cannot return to his country.

After the elections he has pulled together the Iranian community without hiding his face and exposed himself to the regime. They let him know that, if he ever set foot in Tehran, he will be arrested.

(click here to see the gallery)

Morix Lessan has 29 years, he studied fine arts.

He sells paints  in dowtown streets for a living, even though in Iran he was a great potter.

Morix Lessan is 29 years old and he’s trying to have a normal life in an abnormality that he does not want to become the norm.

Morix Lessan 29 years old. And he is a man.

Emiliano Scalia/S4C

(click here to see the gallery)

In our development of the project, we met Mr. DARYUSH SHOKOF, an Iranian activist, artist and filmmaker. At the time, Mr. SHOKOF completed the filming of the first films which deal with the current events of the Islamic Republic since the elections of June 2009. The films “Iran Zendan” and “Hitler’s Grave” were of historic proportions, these were not just films, but rather a way to communicate what is occurring behind the closed doors and what has never been seen outside of Iran. With such films, we held the power of free speech in our hands and would be able to bring this message to the world. So we put all efforts to bring attention to this most urgent matter, the team from SHOOT FOR CHANGE with the team from Berlin from Mr. SHOKOF and to bring the films to US for the first screenings. The screenings were to take place at the same time as the 31st Anniversary was approaching on February 11th, 2010, when the Iranian citizens who support democracy and peace overthrew the Iranian Regime.

Through the month of January we worked endlessly, tirelessly and through many sleepless nights. The importance of this message was clear. The people of Iran are suffering deeply, their voices can not be heard and they can not be seen. But they are there and they are asking for our help to bring attention to their suffering. Peace and nonviolence to them is a privilege and should not be so. The people of Iran just want freedom and democracy and to have the basic human rights that we all have.

As SHOOT FOR CHANGE continued to reach out to Iranian students, anonymous photos were sent to us, which indicated that we were reaching quiet far. At the same time, Mr. SHOKOF and his team were preparing for arrival in New York City and Los Angeles, where the films were accepted to be presented at Columbia University, UCLA and we were scheduling screenings at several theater locations.

Lead Actress of “Hitler’s Grave”

February 11th, 2010: As the news around the world surrounds the events in Iran,  Shoot4Change sends the “Green Wave for Peace in Iran” through the internet.

http://www.shoot4change.net/?page_id=1043.

February 14th, 2010: The first screening takes place at the Anthology Film Archives Theater in New York City, where humanitarians, Iranian people and people of all cultures who related to the films and the message attended.

February 13th, 2010-February 16th, 2010: The Team Arrives in New York City: Ms. TAIES FARZAN (Lead Actress of “Hitler’s Grave”), Mr. HASAN DEMIRCI (Producer/Actor of Iran Zendan),

Actor/Producer of “Hitler’s Grave” and “Iran Zendan”

Mr. SHAHIN SHOKOOFANDEH (Producer of “Iran Zendan” and “Hitler’s Grave” )

Actor/Producer “Hitler’s Grave” and “Iran Zendan”

February 16th, 2010 & February 17th, 2010: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY and UCLAwelcome the team to present the films and for a panel discussion

The First film “HITLER’S GRAVE” is to bring awareness to the global problem of “racism” and to be viewed from a positive and optimistic perspective to help for the future of mankind and to build better, healthier, and much more constructive societies to live in peace. The film pinpoints many acute issues facing world problematic themes from religions to freedom and most specifically the right of women in such most fundamentalist societies as Iran. The film shows how barbarically people have been tortured, and or even raped or died for their peaceful protests against the results of the election that has been proved to the watching eyes of the world to have been rigged in favor of the extreme fundamentalist Regime currently running Iran. Surprising ending of the film is a homage to mankind, pure sense of respect, love and tolerance for relating to one another.

Ms. FARZAN portrays an Iranian women by the name of Atossa, who leaves Iran in search of 2 promises she made as a last wish to her dying brother.  Ms. FARZAN is brilliant in her role, she captures the spirit of a woman who is an original character breaking down the barriers that women of the Middle East have been trying to break for thousands of years.  From another perspective, Atossa is that woman in many of us, who come to a point in our lives where the need for self identity and acceptance and liberation is not an option but a necessity. The other two key character in the film are played by the legendary Mr. VADIM GLOWNA, who flawlessly plays the role of the Jewish Rabbi and  a very strong performance from Mr. PIERRE KIWITT, who plays the role of the German Hotel Manager.  What struck me the most about this film is how it touches upon a very sensitive topic of the Muslim, Jewish and German cultural relations.

Each character represents their perspectives in such unique and special way and opens a door to a possibility of seeing the differences between these 3 groups. What we saw at the universities were students of German, Jewish and Iranian cultures sitting next to one another discussing their struggles and their desires to be seen from a different perspective and to be forgiven for the mistakes made by their predecessors. What I saw was the power of a film to translate into reality and to speak on the behalf of all these people asking for change and to show how the future can be.The Second Film we screened at the universities was “IRAN ZENDAN” a film with such pure, raw power and brutal reality that to describe the scenes of the film I am unable.  The film focuses on the current situation in Iran and how the political prisoners are treated by the government in the prisons. This is the first film to present and show such a topic. The conditions of how the film was made, the labor and the passion of every individual involved in the project is felt at every scene.

“IRAN ZENDAN” was screened at Columbia University and UCLA, after the screening we opened the panel for discussion with the students. Clearly this film is a very personal subject matter to many people, we heard stories of families being in the prisons and of not being able to even communicate by phone or email.  But the power of the film is undeniable; it is fearless and shows the reality of millions of people in Iran as they struggle each day to communicate to the world that just want the same human rights as we all have.  The same situations are occurring in many parts of the world and not just Iran, where humanity of people who want freedom is disrespected due to greed and power. This film speaks to the world.

I would like to thank DARYUSH SHOKOF, ANTONIO AMENDOLA, HASAN DEMIRCI and SHAHIN SHOKOOFANDEH for your guidance and support through this project.  I would especially like to thank TAIES FARZAN,  it was a great honor for me to present this message and stand with you and show the possibility of how we as Jewish and Iranian women can and will work together for the better of the future generations to come.

Respectfully yours,

on the road by: me

yelena

For more information about the films and DARYUSH SHOKOF

http://www.hitlersgrave.com/

www.iranzendan.com

www.shokof.com

PHOTO GALLERY:

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/11468618_ZXJL7#806683852_6qD8n

In our development of the project, we met Mr. DARYUSH SHOKOF, an Iranian activist, artist and filmmaker. At the time, Mr. SHOKOF completed the filming of the first films which deal with the current events of the Islamic Republic since the elections of June 2009. The films “Iran Zendan” and “Hitler’s Grave” were of historic proportions, these were not just films, but rather a way to communicate what is occurring behind the closed doors and what has never been seen outside of Iran. With such films, we held the power of free speech in our hands and would be able to bring this message to the world. So we put all efforts to bring attention to this most urgent matter, the team from SHOOT FOR CHANGE with the team from Berlin from Mr. SHOKOF and to bring the films to US for the first screenings. The screenings were to take place at the same time as the 31st Anniversary was approaching on February 11th, 2010, when the Iranian citizens who support democracy and peace overthrew the Iranian Regime.

Through the month of January we worked endlessly, tirelessly and through many sleepless nights. The importance of this message was clear. The people of Iran are suffering deeply, their voices can not be heard and they can not be seen. But they are there and they are asking for our help to bring attention to their suffering. Peace and nonviolence to them is a privilege and should not be so. The people of Iran just want freedom and democracy and to have the basic human rights that we all have.

As SHOOT FOR CHANGE continued to reach out to Iranian students, anonymous photos were sent to us, which indicated that we were reaching quiet far. At the same time, Mr. SHOKOF and his team were preparing for arrival in New York City and Los Angeles, where the films were accepted to be presented at Columbia University, UCLA and we were scheduling screenings at several theater locations.

Lead Actress of “Hitler’s Grave”

February 11th, 2010: As the news around the world surrounds the events in Iran,  Shoot4Change sends the “Green Wave for Peace in Iran” through the internet.

http://www.shoot4change.net/?page_id=1043.

February 14th, 2010: The first screening takes place at the Anthology Film Archives Theater in New York City, where humanitarians, Iranian people and people of all cultures who related to the films and the message attended.

February 13th, 2010-February 16th, 2010: The Team Arrives in New York City: Ms. TAIES FARZAN (Lead Actress of “Hitler’s Grave”), Mr. HASAN DEMIRCI (Producer/Actor of Iran Zendan),

Actor/Producer of “Hitler’s Grave” and “Iran Zendan”

Mr. SHAHIN SHOKOOFANDEH (Producer of “Iran Zendan” and “Hitler’s Grave” )

Actor/Producer “Hitler’s Grave” and “Iran Zendan”

February 16th, 2010 & February 17th, 2010: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY and UCLAwelcome the team to present the films and for a panel discussion

The First film “HITLER’S GRAVE” is to bring awareness to the global problem of “racism” and to be viewed from a positive and optimistic perspective to help for the future of mankind and to build better, healthier, and much more constructive societies to live in peace. The film pinpoints many acute issues facing world problematic themes from religions to freedom and most specifically the right of women in such most fundamentalist societies as Iran. The film shows how barbarically people have been tortured, and or even raped or died for their peaceful protests against the results of the election that has been proved to the watching eyes of the world to have been rigged in favor of the extreme fundamentalist Regime currently running Iran. Surprising ending of the film is a homage to mankind, pure sense of respect, love and tolerance for relating to one another.

Ms. FARZAN portrays an Iranian women by the name of Atossa, who leaves Iran in search of 2 promises she made as a last wish to her dying brother.  Ms. FARZAN is brilliant in her role, she captures the spirit of a woman who is an original character breaking down the barriers that women of the Middle East have been trying to break for thousands of years.  From another perspective, Atossa is that woman in many of us, who come to a point in our lives where the need for self identity and acceptance and liberation is not an option but a necessity. The other two key character in the film are played by the legendary Mr. VADIM GLOWNA, who flawlessly plays the role of the Jewish Rabbi and  a very strong performance from Mr. PIERRE KIWITT, who plays the role of the German Hotel Manager.  What struck me the most about this film is how it touches upon a very sensitive topic of the Muslim, Jewish and German cultural relations.

Each character represents their perspectives in such unique and special way and opens a door to a possibility of seeing the differences between these 3 groups. What we saw at the universities were students of German, Jewish and Iranian cultures sitting next to one another discussing their struggles and their desires to be seen from a different perspective and to be forgiven for the mistakes made by their predecessors. What I saw was the power of a film to translate into reality and to speak on the behalf of all these people asking for change and to show how the future can be.The Second Film we screened at the universities was “IRAN ZENDAN” a film with such pure, raw power and brutal reality that to describe the scenes of the film I am unable.  The film focuses on the current situation in Iran and how the political prisoners are treated by the government in the prisons. This is the first film to present and show such a topic. The conditions of how the film was made, the labor and the passion of every individual involved in the project is felt at every scene.

“IRAN ZENDAN” was screened at Columbia University and UCLA, after the screening we opened the panel for discussion with the students. Clearly this film is a very personal subject matter to many people, we heard stories of families being in the prisons and of not being able to even communicate by phone or email.  But the power of the film is undeniable; it is fearless and shows the reality of millions of people in Iran as they struggle each day to communicate to the world that just want the same human rights as we all have.  The same situations are occurring in many parts of the world and not just Iran, where humanity of people who want freedom is disrespected due to greed and power. This film speaks to the world.

I would like to thank DARYUSH SHOKOF, ANTONIO AMENDOLA, HASAN DEMIRCI and SHAHIN SHOKOOFANDEH for your guidance and support through this project.  I would especially like to thank TAIES FARZAN,  it was a great honor for me to present this message and stand with you and show the possibility of how we as Jewish and Iranian women can and will work together for the better of the future generations to come.

Respectfully yours,

on the road by: me

yelena

For more information about the films and DARYUSH SHOKOF

http://www.hitlersgrave.com/

www.iranzendan.com

www.shokof.com

PHOTO GALLERY:

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/11468618_ZXJL7#806683852_6qD8n

Come prevedibile, in Iran stanno ricominciando i disordini ed arrivano (seppur centellinate) notizie di cariche e feriti. L’informazione, la libera informazione, ne esce a pezzi (come le ossa di molti, oggi). Sentiamo di traffico gmail limitato, di filtraggio di Internet, di censure dei web.

Facciamo la nostra parte oggi.

Ed e’ anche per questo che vogliamo dare spazio e voce ad un noto regista di origine iraniana, Daryush Shokof, che presenterà – anche grazie al supporto di S4C (e un ringraziamento speciale va a Yelena Posniak a New York) ed alla Columbia University ed UCLA, due suoi film in anteprima a New York e Los Angeles.

“Iran Zendan” &
“Heavens Taxi”
Verranno proiettati qui:
February 14, 2010
Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Avenue
New York City
1pm – 4pm

February 18, 2010
Laemmle Theatres
11523 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
3pm – 6pm

————-

Daryush non riuscirà ad arrivare a New York e Los Angele in tempo per questi eventi ma ci invia un suo video messaggio ed un breve testo. Abbiamo deciso di pubblicarlo (insieme ad una risposta) poichè questa è la forza di S4C. Stiamo creando un network di menti creative che hanno a cuore la libertà di informazione ed espressione.

Siamo idealisti, forse. Ma si vive anche di questo…

Antonio Amendola

——-

I m talking to you from Berlin   Germany, where these two films have been made. Let me welcome you to our modest event in an effort to raise global awareness about Iran s most crucial human rights situation at this very moment.  These two films are most definitely the only existing films challenging every aspect of inhuman rules of Islamic regime of Iran.  Due to many complications from fear to financial gains and further propaganda aspects glorifying demonic perspectives of the current Islamic regime government ruling Iran not even one work of art has ever been produced to portray the horrific dimensions and influence of this regime world wide.

So many lives were lost in the last 30 years only because some brave, wonderful, intelligent, and most creative people wanted peace and freedom, modernity and connection to the advanced world from inside of Iran.
Today I m proud to present these works of historic importance and do hope that by revealing the facts in hopes that both these film could be a support, reaching open  civilization for Iranians in a very new future as they celebrate their moments of freedom.
I take my hat off to you, to the wonderful generous kind and intelligent citizens, students and human right watchers in and outside of the USA like Ms. Posniak in NY, Antonio in Rom, Ms. Meyers,  Amnesty international, world march, shoot for change and so many others, whose powerful protection and support made it possible for me to talk to you, and for these films to be screened.
The Iranian regime knows, their days are numbered and I hope that we did all we could to speed up their resign from their brutal reign over the most talented peace loving, freedom searching Iranian nation.

With love to all of you.

I remain dedicated to serve for freedom, and peace on planet earth, no matter where the duty calls for my engagement.

Daryush Shokof

[vsw id=”gvDk6IEJHe4″ source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

[vsw id=”sT3cJ0CfQA8″ source=”youtube” width=”425″ height=”344″ autoplay=”no”]

E’ un anniversario carico di tensione. A nessuno sfugge quanto stia accadendo laggiù. O meglio…sfugge a tutti. Perchè le informazioni non escono in maniera trasparente e neutra; perchè le immagini non ci arrivano; perchè i racconti vengono filtrati.

Internet è rimasta l’ultima trincea della libertà di informazione. E noi di S4C siamo qui anche per questo e ciascuno di noi, nel proprio piccolo e piccolissimo, sta facendo la sa parte.

Sono molto fiero di poter annunciare una splendida iniziativa che la nostra Yelena Posniak sta portando avanti a New York. Lascio alla sua lettera spiegarvi quello che succederà, o meglio, comincerà a succedere da domani.

Da oggi avviamo ed alimentiamo un’onda verde. Aiutateci tutti a diffonderla…

e da domani, le uniche armi che gireranno su Internet…dovranno essere i nostri e vostro TWIT…

Antonio Amendola

(le foto che pubblicheremo oggi e nei prossimi giorni arrivano da studenti iraniani che chiedono, ovviamente, il completo anonimato)

————-

February 5, 2010

To All Shoot for Change Team  Members:

Dear S4C Team,

Since the launch of Shoot for Change and Peace in January 2010, we have become actively involved with establishing communication to  give a voice to the Iranian people.  In the process, we met incredible individuals and  learned a great deal of the terrible situation that has fallen upon  the millions of people of Iran.

Our initial project started as a platform for Iranian students to display photographs through S4C.  What developed  in the upcoming weeks was truly unbelievable.

By chance or perhaps through destiny, I came across a youtube video by an Iranian  activist/artist/filmmaker, Mr. Daryush Shokof (www.shokof.com) .   This video was a trailer for a film “Iran Zendan” www.iranzendan.com,  and “Heaven’s Taxi” www.heavenstaxithemovie.com.  Both  films focus on bringing attention to the terrible conditions that the Iranian prisoners face by the current regime of Iran and  to bring more attention to the global issue of racism towards the people of the Middle East.  I reached out to Mr. Shokof  to see if we can collaborate and put our efforts together through S4C.    He welcomed the opportunity and presented an idea to begin screening his films in New York City in February.

As we all worked together,   Mr. Shokof and his team  in Berlin,  Antonio from Rome and with my efforts from NYC,  we achieved great success.   The unreleased films will begin screening on February 11^th , which coincides with the 30^th Year Anniversary of the collapse of the Royal Iranian Regime due to the uprising of the people.  The actors from  films, led by the Taies Farzan a women who will represent the people of Iran,  will speak at all forums , with the first to be held at Columbia University.   On February 14, we will hold a private screening  at the Anthology Film Archives, with film people, humanitarians, professors and activists.    On Febryary 17^th the films will be seen in UCLA University, Los Angeles and the final screening will be held on February 18^th at the Royal Theater in LA.   Our goal is to reach out to individuals that can  continue the message of Peace in Iran after the credits of the films run on the screen.

Through this entire process, we also established direct communication with people from Iran, who anonymously send us photos to post.  What an incredible feeling it is to know that we were able to reach so far.

As we release the films in US, at the same time and on the same days, there are events being planned throughout the world to support the message of the films and to cause a wave.  On February 11^th,  9 minutes of the film “Iran Zendan” will be played on the streets of Berlin and in other parts of the world.  On the same day in New York City,   a great activist designer Jillian Maslow, who created the “Bullet Gown” will dress Taies Farzan in her dress and we will photograph her in front of the United Nations.

It is not possible to describe how all of this developed , what is possible is that we did it and we are making a difference in the world.  One person at a time, one country at a time, the people of many nations deserve respect and the beauty of what life can give you.

So let us Shoot for Change and create Peace… we hold it in our hands and  have the power  to make a difference.

Sincerely and most respectfully

Yelena Posniak

Shoot for Change & Peace