CANNES, France (AP) — Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi has called on the Iranian government to allow his countryman and fellow director Jafar Panahi to attend the Cannes Film Festival.

Panahi has been barred from leaving Iran since being found guilty in 2010 for "colluding with the intention to commit crimes against the country's national security and propaganda against the Islamic Republic."

Farhadi concluded the news conference for his Cannes opener "Everybody Knows" with a plea for Panahi to be allowed to come to Cannes for the premiere of Panahi's "Three Faces." It's to debut in Cannes on May 13, in competition.

Farhadi said Panahi deserves to watch his film with the audience. Being allowed to come to Cannes while Panahi has been prohibited, Farhadi said, "is something I had difficulty living with."