TEHRAN -- Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was released from Tehran’s Evin prison on Tuesday on bail of 2 billion rials (about $200,000), the Persian service of ISNA reported.

Panahi was arrested in early March allegedly for making a movie about the 2009 election. He went on a hunger strike last week to protest the circumstances of his detention.
Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi said earlier that there were no political or professional reasons for the arrest, however Panahi’s file will be forwarded to the Islamic Revolution Court to make the final decision.
Panahi was due to sit on the jury of the 2010 Cannes festival but was unable to attend the event. Cannes jury head, U.S. director Tim Burton, joined with international filmmakers’ calls for Panahi’s release, and left one seat symbolically vacant for him on stage at the opening ceremony on May 5.
In addition, at a press conference for his “Certified Copy”, Iranian independent filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami made a plea for Panahi’s release.
This is while Iranian Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs Javad Shamaqdarii censured the Cannes Film Festival for its support for Panahi.
Shamaqdarii objected to the action taken by the film festival during his visit with Cannes president Gilles Jacob at the Cannes Film Market last week.
Jacob described the Cannes festival’s actions in support of Panahi as humanitarian rather than political and noted that the festival’s organizers respect the independence of countries.