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Iranian director Panahi cant attend Venice festival

LONDON: Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been barred from attending the 67th Venice film festival by Tehran. In a statement issued to festival bosses,the director,who was released from jail earlier this year,said he was denied a request to attend the event by the government,Contactmusic reported. Panahis short film The Accordion was screened at the festival. Despite having been released,I am still not free to travel outside my country, the 50-year-old director said.