Cannes Film Fest 2008–Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir, whose debut feature, Salt of This Sea, will play in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Fest next week, cancelled the world premiere of her film after being denied entry into Palestinian territories by Israeli authorities.
Jacir, who was traveling from Jordan, had planned to bow her picture in the Palestinian city of Ramallah before Cannes. Reportedly, she was turned back at the border by Israeli officials after an interrogation.
Jacir claims that she has been barred by Israeli authorities from entering the Palestinian territories for nine months. But she will attending the Cannes screening on May 16.
Jacir plans to get a live satellite feed during the premiere beamed into her Ramallah home so that her crew members unable to travel can have a screening there.