TEHRAN -- The director of the award-winning film “Offside”, Jafar Panahi, had sought to screen his film in the month before the World Cup opens but has run into some problems.

Despite the fact that “Offside” was screened at the 24th Fajr Film Festival, the film has not been able to get a screening license yet, he informed the Mehr News Agency on Monday.

“I, as the director and film producer, asked for permission to screen it after the festival and even signed a contract with FilmIran Distributing Company, emphasizing that it should be screened in late April. I was hoping that the premiere would be in Iran, since I believe the Iranian audience has the right to see the films of their country before any foreign audience sees them.

“But this did not happen, and nobody knows why the screening license of a film which most experts had anticipated would become a box office hit if it were screened at the proper time, has not been issued yet,” he explained.

He went on to say that when “Offside” won the Silver Bear award of the 56th International Berlin Film Festival in February, he quickly returned to Iran to prepare the ground for the screening in Iran, adding, “I kept trying for many weeks, but I was only told to wait. I waited for many weeks, but still there is no clear answer.”

He stated that the golden time for the screening of the film has been lost.

Perhaps those who were happy to hear that no Iranian films are to be shown at this year’s Cannes festival will become happier to hear the news that “Offside” will also not be screened in Iran, and will increase their attacks on Iranian cinema, he added.

“I did my best to make a high-standard film for my country and have my share in Iranians’ excitement in the World Cup matches. Although the time is lost and there is no chance left for advertising the film, I thought I would explain to the respected audience why the film is not being screened at the proper time and express my thanks to all those who tried to get the film screened on time but were not successful.”