Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, a Foreign Film nominee for “The Salesman,” says he is boycotting the Oscars in protest of Trump’s attempted Muslim Ban though recognizes that “many in the American film industry and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are opposed to the fanaticism and extremism which are today taking place more than ever.”
In a statement, the director remarked about the boycott: “It now seems that the possibility of this presence is being accompanied by ifs and buts, which are in no way acceptable to me, even if exceptions were to be made for my trip. Hardliners, despite their nationalities, political arguments and wars, regard and understand the world in very much the same way. In order to understand the world, they have no choice but to regard it via an ‘us and them’ mentality, which they use to create a fearful image of ‘them’ and inflict fear in the people of their own countries.”
Martin Butler and Bentley Dean, co-directors of Australia’s contender “Tanna,” says that “the Foreign Language Film category is all about celebrating all cultures in cinema, which is why [fellow nominee] Asghar Farhadi’s feeling the need to boycott the Academy Awards in response to Trump’s attempted Muslim ban is particularly tragic. We understand and support his decision. What has been heartening over subsequent days is seeing the American people and their institutions flex their democratic muscles….“
Maren Ade, director of Germany’s “Toni Erdmann,” added: “mixing the topics of terrorism and refugees is horrible, inhuman politics because it creates fear and instills racism.”
