Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof sentenced to prison

[FWN Adm]

Filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof from Iran was sentenced to 8 years in prison and his properties confiscated by the government for creating and showing the film THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG that deals with an investigative judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. In the film the judge, named Iman, grapples with mistrust as nationwide political protests intensified.

Mohammad Rasoulof in the past has repeatedly violated Iranian censorship rules and regulations with his film and was already given a three year sentence as well as banned from leaving the country or working with others from outside Iran. This time the government of Iran asked Rasoulof to pull his film from the competition at Cannes but he refused.

 His film THERE IS NO EVIL has won the top award at the 70th Berlin Film Festival where he received the award despite his absence from the event.

[FWN Adm]

Filmmaker Mohammed Rasoulof has fled Iran and current living at an undisclosed location in Europe to avoid the "unjust system" - in his words - that imposed the prison sentenced on him for showing his film. Rasoulof already had warnings issued by the government for his earlier films and this time along with his 8 year sentence the government also ordered the confiscation of his properties.

Films Boutique is handling the worldwide sales rights to his new film THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG, with PyramideFilms set to distribute in France this fall and Neon purchased the rights for the North American distribution.

[FWN Adm]

Mohammad Rasoulof stated that he is going to attend the premier of his film THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG at the Cannes Film Festival. Having found asylum in Germany, Cannes' general delegate Thierry Fremaux has now confirmed his attendance. "Our joy will be that of all festival-goers and all freedom-loving Iranians. We would like to reaffirm the support of the Cannes Film Festival for all artists around the world who suffer violence and reprisals in the expression of their art." - said Fremaux.

Separately, a cohort of international filmmakers have called for solidarity with Iran filmmakers including Rasoulof in an open letter that condemns the "continuous systemic criminalisation of artistic freedom". The letter was initiated by Tara Afsah of Komplizen Film and Raquel Kishori Dukpa, Paulina Lorenz and Faraz Shariat of Jünglinge Film alongside Jorgo Narjes of X Filme and Iranian actor and filmmaker Maryam Zaree.

"We condemn the inhumane treatment of Rasoulof, his colleagues and numerous other independent artists in Iran, who are being severely punished, criminalised and silenced for exercising their artistic freedom. We stand in full solidarity with Rasoulof's demands and call upon the international film community to raise our voices against an Islamist dictatorship that systematically oppresses every aspect of their society's lives." - stated the letter signed by many supporters.