Ahead of its premiere in Cannes 2024, Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof was sentenced to eight years in prison by Iranian authorities.
Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof’s latest work, The Seed of The Sacred Fig, has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best International Feature category. The film, submitted by Germany, Rasoulof’s adopted home after fleeing Iran, has garnered critical acclaim and sparked international conversation.
Rasoulof, who escaped Iran due to government persecution for his criticism of the regime, initially sought refuge in an undisclosed European country before settling in Germany. His film has since been acquired by Neon Rated for North American distribution.
The Seed of The Sacred Fig, though set in Tehran and featuring a predominantly Iranian cast and crew, was produced by Rasoulof’s German company Run Way Pictures, in collaboration with France’s Parallel45 and Arte France Cinéma.
The film follows Iman, an investigating judge in Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, as he deals with growing mistrust and paranoia amid escalating political protests, all while his gun mysteriously disappears. The film blends a fictional narrative with real footage of the protests that were violently suppressed by Iranian authorities.
The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2024, where it was in competition for the Palme d’Or and received a Special Award from the jury. Rasoulof, who had been sentenced to eight years in prison by Iranian authorities for his criticism of the regime, managed to flee to Germany and attended the red carpet premiere at Cannes.
Speaking about the nomination, producers Rozita Hendijanian and Mani Tilgner from Run Way Pictures said: “We are very honoured that The Seed of The Sacred Fig has been nominated for an Oscar. We are happy that this great and brave film by Mohammad Rasoulof and the efforts of the whole team, who were willing to take every kind of risk, are now also recognised by the Academy. Furthermore, we would also like to thank the members of the Academy and everyone else who has supported us along the way.”
Simone Baumann, Managing Director of German Films, added: “For the third time in a row, the German entry has been nominated in the Best International Film category. This is really good news and a special tribute to German film. Numerous good films from all over the world are submitted in this category. The fact that the German entry has once again made it to the final five nominees shows great interest at the international level. The Seed of The Sacred Fig is a psychogram of Iran’s theocracy built on violence and paranoia. Mohammad Rasoulof subtly speaks about the rifts within a family that are representative of the rifts within Iranian society. The film is an outstanding work by one of the great directors of world cinema who has found refuge in Germany. Congratulations to the whole team of The Seed of The Sacred Fig!”
