The female cast and crew of the new film by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who is banned from leaving the country, said Sunday he was crushed he could not attend the Cannes premiere but that his “most ardent hope” was to show the movie at home.
His “Three Faces”, one of 21 movies vying for the Palme d’Or top prize, drew a standing ovation at the world’s top film festival late Saturday, but Panahi’s absence was sorely felt with a seat left symbolically empty for the dissident director.

https://www.netsentertainment.com/2018/05/barred-cannes-director-desperate-to.html?m=1

Islamic country and backwardness! SMH