Rotterdam Festival Head Says ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ Actor Soheila Golestani Is ‘Victim of Oppression’ Following Travel Ban

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Soheila Golestani, an acclaimed Iranian actress featured in Mohammad Rasoulof’s Oscar-nominated film “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” was prevented from traveling to serve on the jury at this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam due to a ban imposed by Iran. Vanja Kaludjercic, the festival director, expressed dismay over the travel restriction on Friday, stating that the team was disappointed but not surprised by the news of Golestani’s inability to depart from Iran.

Kaludjercic remarked, referring to Rasoulof’s film that won the Jury Special Prize at Cannes, ‘Observing Mohammad’s involvement in this significant project is equivalent to repeatedly observing the tangible impact of standing up against authority.’ Mohammad will be with us [at Rotterdam film festival] not only to screen his film but also to discuss cinema in the context of increasing authoritarianism. Soheila’s story serves as a stark reminder of how relevant and pressing these matters truly are.

She stated: “We stand united with her, offering our support, and wishing the global film industry will rally behind her now – as she faces oppression and retaliation, an experience shared by many artists.

EbMaster recognizes that Rasoulof will be attending the festival not just to promote “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” but also as a distinguished guest and speaker at a Tiger Talk event titled “Cinema in the Ascendancy of Authoritarianism.” This discussion, organized in collaboration with the International Coalition for Filmakers at Risk, is one that IFFR, IDFA, and the European Film Academy all support. Other speakers joining this discourse on Feb. 3 include Albertina Carri, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio, and Erhan Örs.

Golestani had been scheduled to sit on the panel of judges for the Tiger Competition, alongside British director Peter Strickland, Indonesian producer and filmmaker Yuki Aditya, Hong Kong singer and actress Winnie Lau, and German artist and filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman. In simpler terms, he was planned to be a judge in the Tiger Competition, joining forces with Peter Strickland, Yuki Aditya, Winnie Lau, and Andrea Luka Zimmerman.

Jafar Panahi left his native Iran for Germany about a year ago, following an eight-year prison sentence issued by the Iranian government because he refused to withdraw “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” from the Cannes Film Festival and faced harassment towards the film’s creators. The authorities in Iran still seek him.

Regarding Golestani, it’s still unclear what exact charges she is facing. It’s known that she is currently being accused of propagating against the Iranian regime and allegedly promoting immorality through her role in Rasoulof’s latest production. A court hearing has taken place for her case, but a verdict has not been announced yet. Golestani herself has not made any official comment on the matter at this time.

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2025-01-31 18:19