Editor

Since 28th September 2009, the 17th Filmfest Hamburg has been apprehended by the Iranian  "Green Movement"  for independence. Filmfest guests are spontaneously joining the peaceful resistance movement, and are showing their solidarity by having photographs taken of them wearing green scarves. The "green wave" was initiated at the festival by exiled Iranian director Sepideh Farsi ("Tehran Without Permission"). Farsi is not only being supported by her Iranian directing colleagues, but is also succeeding in winning over a growing number of Filmfest guests, including the directors Fatih Akin ("Soul Kitchen"), Miraz Bezar ("Before My Eyes"/"Min Dit - The Children Of Diyarbakir"), Simon Reynolds ("Only"), Hermine Huntgeburth and producer Katharina Trebitsch.

The "Green Movement" at the 17th Filmfest Hamburg came into being at a morning-after breakfast at Strandperle on Monday, hosted for the first time by Studio Hamburg and Filmfest for guests, Studio Hamburg "House of Young Producers" stipend holders and nominees of the 2009 Studio Hamburg Young Talents Awards. Paris-based Sepideh Farsi convinced all of the morning-after breakfast guests of giving their spontaneous support and handed every guest a symbolic green scarf.

Mir Hossein Mousavi, the former Iranian presidential candidate who came forward as the opposing candidate of election winner Ahmadinejad, had chosen the colour green as a symbol for the descent from the prophet Mohammad. The followers of the "Green Movement" rather see the colour as representing their unity in opposition of Ahmadinejad. Since the election, exiled Iranians such as Sepideh Farsi are using the "Green Movement" to draw attention to violence, imprisonments and violation of human rights in Iran.

For further information please contact the press team in the press office at Pony Bar, Allende Platz 1, Hamburg, telephone +49 (0)40 - 441 957 46, e-mail presse@filmfesthamburg.de.

Please find further information at http://www.filmfesthamburg.de/.