Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof has fled Iran following a prison sentence for creating his latest movie, "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," which he produced secretly. Rasoulof revealed his escape on Instagram, stating he was in a safe location after a challenging journey facilitated by several individuals who risked their safety. His lawyer confirmed that Rasoulof left Iran and plans to attend the Cannes Film Festival, where his film is set to premiere.
Previously, Rasoulof, aged 51, faced legal troubles in Iran, including a sentence to one year in jail in 2019 for his film "A Man of Integrity," and another one-year sentence in 2020 for "There Is No Evil," a film about the death penalty in Iran. These convictions were related to charges including "collusion against national security" and "anti-government propaganda."
The Iranian court most recently sentenced Rasoulof to eight years in prison last week. He did not disclose his escape route but posted a video hinting at a snowy mountainous terrain, suggesting he may have fled via Iraq or Turkey with the aid of smugglers. Rasoulof's outspoken criticism of the Iranian government has led to multiple confrontations with Iranian authorities over the years.