Thousands of people in Iran have attended the funeral of acclaimed director Abbas Kiarostami. <br /><br /> The 76-year-old Iranian filmmaker died last week in Paris, following a period of ill health. <br /><br /> Renowned for his ambiguity and mixing fictional and documentary elements, fans paid tribute to Kiarostami during a ceremony in Tehran. <br /><br /> “To me and all the people here, Abbas Kiarostami was one of the greatest directors in the world. He promoted Iran in both photography and filmmaking,” said one woman<br /><br /> “He faced obstacles, of course it does not mean that he was not allowed to make movies in Iran or get a production permit, but he wouldn’t work in Iran and people would follow news about him from outside the country. His death means a lot to people,’‘ said another man. <br /><br /> Kiarostami gained worldwide popularity during the 1990s, winning the prestigious Palme D’or at the Cannes Film Festival for his movie, ‘Taste of the Cherry.’‘<br />
