MUMBAI: Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been forbidden entry to this year's Venice international film festival. Panahi's work The Accordion opened the short film section of the festival.

A winner of Venice's top film honour, the Golden Lion, for his 2000 film Circle, as well as the 1995 Camera d'Or at Cannes, Panahi is an active participant in international film dialogue.

In a statement to festival officials, Panahi expressed his gratitude to fellow filmmakers, "In the most desperate moments of my imprisonment,I drew courage thinking of myself as a proud member of this community."

Screened yesterday at Venice, the eight-minute short film The Accordion explores the lives of two young street musicians. Filmed in Iran as part of UN-backed project Then and Now: Beyond Borders and Differences, Panahi's work was intended to promote ideas of tolerance and international dialogue.