The Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) is supporting the ongoing attacks by the U.S. and Israel in Iran that have caused the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei prompting the possibility of seismic political changes.
“The Islamic regime in Iran, following the national uprising and tragic massacre of January 2025, has left its defenseless citizens with no option but to seek urgent humanitarian intervention from the international community,” the organization – which claims to represent hundreds of members of Iran’s dissident film community – said in a statement.
Over 40,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during the Jan. 8-9 crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests.
“In this context, the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) calls upon the international community to uphold Iran’s sovereignty and to prioritize the protection of tens of millions of citizens held hostage by the Islamic regime,” the statement added.
“We advocate for targeted actions against government officials and oppressive agents while avoiding harm to innocent civilians,” it continued. “It is essential to put an end to this archaic cycle of patriarchal violence.”
Top Iranian auteurs such as Jafar Panahi, Asghar Farhadi and Mohamed Rasoulof have yet to weigh in with public statements on the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Besides Khamanei, the air strikes have also killed Iran’s chief of army staff and defense minister, according to Iran’s state state-run IRNA news agency and other news outlets.
Iran has retaliated to the air strikes by launching missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
The effects of the attacks on Iranian civilians were not immediately clear. HRANA, a Washington-based Iranian rights group, said late Saturday that at least 133 civilians had been killed and that 200 others had been injured. The U.S. and Israeli militaries have not immediately commented.
Meanwhile massive explosions are being reported on Sunday in the Iranian capital of Tehran where on Saturday celebrations for the supreme leader’s death with fireworks and dancing in the streets reportedly took place but there were also protests on the part of Khamenei supporters.
Iranian regime change is considered a complicated matter due to the regime’s deep roots in the country despite widespread opposition. The political vacuum could evolve in unpredictable ways.
