Massoud Bakhshi, the Tehran-born director of "Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness," an official selection of the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Bakhshi sent a letter to Sundance, saying he won't attend the festival … — Massoud Bakhshi, the Tehran-born director of "Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness," an official selection of the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Bakhshi sent a letter to Sundance, saying he won't attend the festival because of tensions between Iran and the United States, Iranian news outlets reported. (Photo courtesy of Sundance Institute)

Tensions between Iran and U.S. prompt a filmmaker to cancel his trip to Sundance

January 12, 2020 by Sean P. Means

One of the more intriguing titles set to debut at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival is “Yalda: A Night of Forgiveness,” one of the few films from Iran to ever play in Park City.

Now, with rising tensions between Iran and the United States, the movie’s director, Mahsood Bakhshi, has announced he won’t be coming to the festival. Sundance organizers, though, say the movie will still screen.