Mohammad Rasoulof, a renowned Iranian film director, has fled Iran and arrived in Europe following a prison sentence related to charges of "collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the country’s security." His escape comes just before the premiere of his latest film, "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," at the Cannes Film Festival.
Rasoulof, 52, was sentenced last week to a severe penalty including eight years in prison, flogging, a fine, and the confiscation of property. His departure from Iran involved a secretive and perilous journey, as confirmed by Jean-Christophe Simon, CEO of Films Boutique and Parallel45, on May 13, 2024. Rasoulof's travel challenges were compounded by the Iranian government's confiscation of his passport in 2017, forcing him to leave the country clandestinely.
The director has faced continuous adversity from Iranian authorities, particularly as "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" was announced as part of the Cannes official competition. The pressure escalated with threats against Rasoulof and those associated with the film, including actors and film crew members who faced harassment and interrogations by intelligence services.
Rasoulof is a critical voice against what he perceives as the oppressive measures of the Iranian regime, particularly in the wake of the nationwide protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. His films, which have frequently been banned in Iran, have nevertheless garnered international acclaim, including the Golden Bear at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival for his film "There Is No Evil."
The director, previously detained in 2017 and in July 2022, expressed his decision to choose exile over imprisonment as a necessity to continue highlighting human rights violations and the reality in Iran through his artistic work. Rasoulof's situation reflects the broader tensions and challenges faced by artists and dissidents within Iran.