Iranian artists warned by Culture Ministry

An official from Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has warned that any artists, including directors and movie crew members, who collaborate in unauthorized films will face punishment.

"I announce that we will take action against artists who collaborate in producing unlicensed films," Alireza Sajadpour, head of the Culture Ministry's vetting office, was quoted as saying in the Tehran Times.

Sajadpour's pronouncement comes in the wake of awards garnered this year by several Iranian films that were made on the sly.

Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi's latest film, No One Knows About Persian Cats, was made without a permit.

The movie, about Iran's underground independent music scene, won a jury award in Cannes this year. Ghobadi lives in Europe.

Directors are required to submit screenplays to the vetting office before filming begins. But they have been facing increasing censorship under the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

If the Culture Ministry refuses to grant the necessary licences, a film can't be produced or premiere in the country.

Other Iranian directors, including Abbas Kiarostami and Jafar Panahi, have made films without applying for a production license.

Their films are often launched at international festivals and available through DVD within Iran.