TEHRAN – Former president of the Cannes Film Festival Gilles Jacob has sent a message to a commemoration held for the legendary Iranian filmmaker to Abbas Kiarostami at the 35th Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran.

“Kiarostami was one of the most creative individuals in the world,” Jacob said in a video screened at Charsu Cineplex on Tuesday.

“A man equal in caliber to the great director and screenwriter Roberto Rossellini,” he added.

He called Kiarostami “one of the masters of world cinema” and added, “Even at my age, I still want to go back to school so he could teach me cinema.”

The organizers of the festival arranged a three-day commemoration for Kiarostami who died of a severe gastrointestinal disease at 76 last July.

A number of international cineastes, critics and figures, including Spanish filmmaker Victor Eric, attended the commemoration.

The festival will wrap up by awarding winners on Friday.

Photo: Former president of the Cannes Film Festival Gilles Jacob in a file photo

RM/YAW