The new film 'Seed of the Sacred Fig' is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later this month; however, its Iranian director, Mohammed Rasoulof, may not be able to attend.
Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison, as well as a fine, confiscation of his property, and flogging, by an Iranian court.
The verdict was handed down by the 29th branch of the Islamic Revolution Court and confirmed by the 36th branch of the Aina Court of Appeals, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The director's lawyer, Babak Paknia, announced the news in a post to X on Wednesday, revealing the court had found Rasoulof's public statements, films, and documentaries "were examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the country's security."
While his sentencing comes ahead of the Cannes film festival, it remains unclear whether authorities in Iran will allow Rasoulof to travel to France for the highly anticipated event.
It seems more and more unlikely by the day.
Rasoulof has long been one of the Iranian film industry's most outspoken critics of Tehran's hardcore regime, and he has consistently paid the price for it over the years.
In July 2022, he was arrested for merely signing a petition calling on security forces to show restraint in relation to widespread protests, but was released on a temporary basis in February 2023 due to health issues.
Rasoulof has been under house arrest ever since.
Last year, he was invited to Cannes to serve on its Un Certain Regard Jury, but again, he was forbidden from leaving Iran.
Allegedly, Rasoulof is facing mounting pressure from the Iranian government to withdraw 'Seed of the Sacred Fig Tree' from the Cannes festival altogether.
The film centers on Iman, an investigation judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, who struggles with mistrust and paranoia as nationwide politically motivated protests intensify.
Selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Rasoulof's work will get its world premiere in May 2024.
1/2 #محمد_رسول_اف به موجب حکم صادره از شعبهی ۲۹ دادگاه انقلاب اسلامی به تحمل هشت سال حبس (۵سال قابل اجرا)، شلاق، جزای نقدی و ضبط مال محکوم شد. این حکم در شعبه ۳۶ دادگاه تجدیدنظر عینا تایید و اکنون پرونده به اجرای احکام ارسال شده است.
— Babak Paknia (@DrPaknia) May 8, 2024
