Rajaee Martyr’s Character Fascinates Me

TEHRAN (AIPFF) - Veteran Chilean anti-coup filmmaker and director Miguel Littin says the Ammar Popular Film Festival (APFF) will soon become one of the world’s most acknowledged film festivals given the potentialities of the festival.

TEHRAN (AIPFF) – Veteran Chilean anti-coup filmmaker and director Miguel Littin says the Ammar Popular Film Festival (APFF) will soon become one of the world’s most acknowledged film festivals given the potentialities of the festival.

Addressing a press conference at Martyr President Rajaei’s house/museum on Monday, the Chilean director, who was invited at the special guest of the international section of APFF (APFF International) in Tehran, said, “Over the few days that I spent in Tehran, people treated me with so much hospitality and I shall never forget their kindness.”

Commenting on revolutions, Littin said a revolution is like a plant that is grown in a garden; once other countries begin to recognize the revolution, it can grow much faster and stronger.

Speaking on the APFF and how much he knew about APFF before coming to Iran, he said: “APFF is different from other festivals. If it manages to continue in its path, it can become one of the world’s most recognized film events. Given what I saw in the festival, I suppose APFF is among the world’s revolutionary festivals because Iran is a revolutionary country and the festival has been developed based on revolutionary ideologies.”

Asked how much he knew about Imam Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, he said, “I was in France at the time Imam Khomeini was in the country. I was shooting a movie there. Because I was there, I was informed about the Islamic Revolution of Iran and learned about Imam Khomeini himself.”

Asked whether he would be reprimanded by Chilean authorities for traveling to Iran, he said such things do not bother him. “Everybody in the world know that I am in Iran now and I have a freedom-seeking spirit. Rest assured I know how to react to any possible criticism once I get back home. I am a very frank person and I know what I am doing.”

“Traveling to Iran was an extraordinary experience in my life; besides, coming to see Marty Rajaei’s house added to astonishment in the visit.”

Elsewhere, he said he is currently in talks for production of a joint film with Iran about educational systems and a number of other subjects. “Such a work will open up may door for the both sides especially for the young and emerging filmmakers both in Iran and Chile.

Miguel Littin, was honored during a cultural event by the International Section of Ammar Popular Film Festival (APFF)  at Ibn Sina (Avicenna) Hall of Tehran University in his own presence yestarday August 30, 2016.

The theme of this year’s edition was the Influence of Arrogant World Powers on Other Countries. The festival sought to shed light on the CIA-assisted colonial coup in Iran, which overthrew the then government of democratically-elected then-Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq in favor of cementing the monarchical rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the then-Iranian monarch, back on August 19, 1953.