German producer Silvana Santamaria has come on board as a lead producer on “The Witness,” the brand new Tehran-set mission reuniting Jafar Panahi and Nader Saeivar that Arthood leisure is promoting in Cannes.
Saeivar will direct “The Witness.” Saeivar wrote “3 Faces,” the Panahi-directed drama that premiered in 2018 in Cannes the place it received the award for finest screenplay.
Panahi, who’s one among Iran’s most distinguished auteurs, was lately launched from Tehran’s Evin jail after being incarcerated for “propaganda against the system.” He is predicted to work very intently with Saeivar on “The Witness” shoot and be on set daily, as he did for Saeivar’s earlier movies “No End” and “Namo,” in keeping with Santamaria. Panahi may even function editor on this beforehand introduced movie that’s anticipated to begin taking pictures quickly.
In “The Witness,” a widowed retired trainer sees the homicide of her adopted daughter. When the police refuse to research the homicide due to the suspect’s standing as an necessary authorities determine, she decides to publicize every part she is aware of.
In his director’s assertion, Saeivar referred to as “The Witness” a mirrored image of the present state of Iranian society. “It depicts the government’s authoritarian rule and the inevitable obedience of society which comes even at the cost of dignity. Ordinary citizens become caught in the gears of the ruling system and become more demoralized each day. This story shows that in the face of a repressive regime, dignity and humanity are inevitably effaced and the truth destroyed,” he mentioned.
“The Witness” is being co-produced by Said Nur Akkus by way of German-Turkish manufacturing firm Arthood with Luxembourg’s Wady movies and Santamaria’s Soilfilms. The lead producers are Silvana Santamaria and Said Nur Akkus. The movie’s German distributor is Missing Films.