TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Hundreds of Iranians attended a candlelit ceremony Tuesday to mourn the death of film director Abbas Kiarostami, who died at the age of 76 after a career spanning more than four decades.
President Hassan Rouhani said on Twitter that the director’s “different and deep attitude toward life and invitation to peace and friendship” would be a “lasting achievement.” He referred to Kiarostami by his first name, a sign of closeness in Iranian culture.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Kiarostami’s death was a loss for international cinema, and referred to him as “Ostad,” a term of respect rarely used by political leaders when referring to artists.
Iranian artists and other celebrities expressed condolences, including fellow director Asghar Farhadi , who won Iran’s first Oscar for “A Separation” in 2012.
“His death is not believable and I already miss his expressions,” Farhadi said, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.