Speaking to journalists, culture minister Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili said, “If persons from inside Iran are involved with the film ‘Holy Spider’, they will surely receive punishment from the Cinema Organization of Iran.”

“This film has been produced outside of Iran and the main members of its crew live abroad; it has been shot on locations in Jordan and has not received authorization from Iran,” he added.

“Holy Spider” has been directed by Denmark-based Iranian filmmaker Ali Abbasi based on a true story about a serial killer targeting sex workers in Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Imam of the Shia.

The co-production of Denmark, Germany, Sweden and France premiered last week at the Cannes Film Festival, which awarded the France-based Iranian star of the film, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, as best actress for her portrayal of a journalist tracking the serial killer.

Following the Cannes awards ceremony, the Cinema organization of Iran viewed “Holy Spider” as insulting to Imam Reza (AS) and the Shia in a statement, denouncing Cannes for awarding the film’s star.

The organization called the Cannes decision to acclaim the film “an insulting and politically-motivated move.”

The statement also said that the Cannes Film Festival is an event organized under the French government’s control and authority, and asked France and the organizers “to remove this black mark from the festival’s professional reputation.”

This year’s Cannes also premiered the Iranian drama “Leila’s Brother” directed by Saeid Rustai, whose stars’ critical remarks on Iran in their interviews, as well as actor Navid Mohammadzadeh’s move to kiss his wife Fereshteh Hosseini, who is also an actress, on the red carpet, provoked the anger of the Cinema Organization of Iran.

The director of the organization, Mohammad Khazaei, said that taking a strong stance on the Iranian government in press conferences would never bring them international acclaim.

He also asked the Iranian Cinema House, which is also known as the Iranian Alliance of Motion Picture Guilds, to investigate the issue and report the results to the Cinema Professional Ethics Council.

Photo: Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili in an undated photo.

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Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili made the remarks in a meeting with former culture minister Seyyed Abbas Salehi on Thursday just one day after winning a vote of confidence from the Iranian Parliament, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance announced in a press release.

“Due to the pandemic, artists and people working in cultural fields have been facing hard days over the pandemic and this popular government is seeking to pass the current condition to support them,” he said.

He added that the culture ministry will pursue the endeavors made by the former minister to vaccinate artists and cultural figures so that to help the cultural and art center resume their regular activities.

“We will try to make use Mr. Salahi’s vast cultural and scientific experience as the president has emphasized the need to interact with former managers so that to do our best in our mission,” he added.

Salahi also wished Esmaeili good luck in his mission and said, “I will serve as a soldier wherever there will be a need for my help.”

“In each new management, new activities and works will absolutely form, however, communication with the past can help new managers head toward the future with more knowledge,” he added.

Esmaeili has not been welcomed by artists and cineastes as he accused them of disregarding the values of the Islamic Revolution in his programs discussed at the Iranian Parliament.

He has also has challenged the legality of the Iranian House of Cinema, which is the official guild of Iranian cineastes.

Esmaeili is scheduled officially inaugurated as the new culture ministry this week.

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