Our ambassadors
Helen Mirren, actress, UK
Artistic freedom is not a privilege – it is a human right. Standing in solidarity with our filmmaking colleagues and friends around the world, being deprived of their creative freedom has to be our honorable duty. Those who dare to risk their professional career and personal life for democracy and truth deserve our full respect and support.
I therefore very much welcome the foundation of an International Coalition of Filmmakers at Risk as initiated by the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the European Film Academy in Berlin. Joining forces is exactly the right thing to do in a world where fundamental human rights are more and more threatened.
Jafar Panahi, filmmaker, Iran
The unconditional support of filmmakers is the best support a filmmaker at risk can get. If there could be an institution representing all the world’s famous and respected filmmakers, they could then at any time, support actively and efficiently any filmmaker in danger.