(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 04 - Iranian dissident director Mohammad Rasoulof has confirmed that he was unable to accept an invitation from the Cannes Film Festival to join the Un Certain Regard judging panel after he was prevented from leaving Iran.
The news was reported by the Farsi-language news service Radio France Internationale (RFI) and the director confirmed to Deadline that he had been given no explanation for the refusal by the Iranian authorities.
The festival hoped to secure Rasoulof's participation after his temporary release from Tehran's Evin Hard Jail in February due to ill health after a seven-month stint in detention.
The continued travel restrictions for Rasoulof follow last week's news that friend and fellow dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi had left Iran for the first time in 14 years after his travel ban was lifted.
However, his lawyer denied the rumors according to which he was gone forever, while rumors gave him among the probable jurors at Cannes for the official selection, these too in fact denied by the announcement today of the composition of the jury that will award the Palme d'or on May 27th.
Rasoulof has been in the crosshairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran government throughout his career.
His last arrest was last July, before the ongoing Woman Life Freedom protests, and was related to signing a petition entitled "Lay Down Your Arms" calling on security forces to exercise restraint in relation to popular protests.
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