Filmmaker calls his doc on Hoveyda unbiased

TEHRAN.(Iranart) – Iranian filmmaker Mostafa Shoqi has said that his documentary “Hoveyda” about Amir Abbas Hoveyda, prime minister of Iran under Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, is unbiased and without any prejudice.

The documentary premiered during the 11th Cinema Verite festival currently underway in Tehran. 

Shoqi used Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting’s archives to make the film, which was produced in two versions, one for screening at movie theaters and the other a four-episode series for TV broadcast.

The feature-length edition mostly focuses on the trial and execution of the economist and politician who was the longest-serving prime minister of Iran from 1965 to 1977. 

Scenes from his trial, which led to his execution by the Iranian revolutionaries in 1979, are being shown for the first time in the documentary.  

Organized private screenings at several high schools in Tehran for gifted and talented students, all of which confirmed the unbiased view of the documentary.

“No censorship has been imposed on the film, in fact, history cannot be censored,” Shoqi said.

“Documentaries should not conceal the realities,” he noted and added, “The reality should be told to the new generation and let them on their own decide if it is right or not.”

“We tried only to narrate the story of Hoveyda and allow the viewers make their own judgments about him,” he noted.

The Cinema Verite festival will come to an end on Sunday by presenting awards to top documentary films from Iran and other countries.