As filmmakers and cultural workers, we speak out in solidarity with the people of Iran, who for more than two weeks have been protesting for their right to live in dignity and freedom.

The regime’s response follows a recurring pattern: instead of addressing the needs of the people, it is doing everything in its power to crush any protest at its outset.

For several days now, access to the internet and all telephone connections have been cut off, completely isolating the country from the outside world. Nevertheless, disturbing reports, videos and images have reached us - images of the brutal suppression of the protests. There is talk of thousands of deaths and arrests, an unbearable level of brutality.

Among the victims are colleagues and filmmakers AHMAD ABBASI and JAVAD GANJI, with whom some of us have collaborated on projects.

Right now, it is important that we help to ensure that the events in Iran do not disappear from the public eye - regardless of political differences and divisions.

We therefore ask you to show solidarity with the people of Iran, who continue to resist with extraordinary courage, in complete isolation.

Be their voice!

First signatories:

Jasmin Tabatabai – Actress

Mohammad Rasoulof - Director

Jafar Panahi - Director

Shirin Neshat - Artist & Director

Ali Samadi Ahadi - Director & Scriptwriter

Tom Tykwer - Director & Scriptwriter

Behrooz Karamizade - Director & Scriptwriter

Roshanak Khodabakhsh - Producer

Maria Schrader - Director & Actress

Caroline Link - Director

Detlev Buck - Director

Constantin Lieb - Scriptwriter

Dominik Graf - Director

Iris Berben - Actress

Heide Schwochow - Scriptwriter

Matthijs Wouter Knol - CEO European Film Academy

Lena May Graf - Scriptwriter & Director

Sherry Hormann - Director

Kaveh Farnam - Producer

Nader Saeivar - Director

Roxana Samadi - Actress & Director

Marie-Lou Sellem - Actress

Urte Fink - Commissioning Editor

Ayse Polat - Scriptwriter & Director

Mariusz Włodarski - Producer

Maryam Zaree - Actress & Director

Jorgo Narjes - Producer

Faraz Shariat - Director

Sara Fazilat - Director & Producer

Paulina Lorenz - Producer

Sina Ataeian Dena - Director

Tara Afsah - Producer

Siba Shakib - Scriptwriter & Director

Caroline Schreiber - Actress

Jonas Dassler - Actor

Hadi Khanjanpour - Actor

Hamed Soleimanzadeh - Film Critic

Aliaksei Paluyan - Scriptwriter & Director

Giorgi Abashishvili - Scriptwriter & Director

Wojciech Staron - Cinematographer

Esther Bernstorff - Scriptwriter

Elisabeth Köller - Producer

Niloufar Taghizadeh - Director & Producer

Parviz Sayad - Actor, Director & Producer

Manijeh Hekmat - Director