Rotterdam Festival Head Says ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig' Actor Soheila Golestani Is ‘Victim of Oppression' Following Travel Ban
Soheila Golestani, the Iranian actor who stars in Mohammad Rasoulof's Oscar-nominated drama 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig,' has been banned from leaving Iran to serve on the Tiger Competition jury at this year's International Film Festival Rotterdam. Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic spoke against the travel ban on Friday, saying the festival team is 'saddened but not surprised' that the actor has been forbidden from leaving Iran.
'Having seen Mohammad's journey with this vital project is to have witnessed time and again the real consequences of speaking truth to power,' continued Kaludjercic, referring to Rasoulof's film, which won the Jury Special Prize at Cannes. 'Mohammad joins us [at Rotterdam film festival] both to share his film and also participate on a panel about cinema in the face of a rise of authoritarianism — and Soheila's experience underscores how real and urgent these issues are.'
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She added: 'We stand with her in solidarity and hope that she is supported by the global film community at this time — as she is the victim of oppression and a backlash for speaking out that many artists know all too well.'
Variety understands that Rasoulof is still scheduled to appear at the festival, not only in support of 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' but as a special guest and speaker at a Tiger Talk titled 'Cinema and the Rise of Authoritarianism' held in partnership with the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk, of which IFFR is a founding member together with IDFA and the European Film Academy. Other speakers include Albertina Carri, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio and Erhan Örs. The talk is scheduled for Feb. 3.
Golestani was to have served on the Tiger Competition jury 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.
Rasoulof fled his home country of Iran for Germany last year after being sentenced to eight years in prison by the country's authorities, who pressured him to pull 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' from the Cannes Film Festival and harassed the film's producers and actors. The filmmaker is still wanted by authorities.
As for Golestani, the charges aren't yet clear. Variety learned the actor is currently accused of propaganda against the Iranian regime and promoting immorality through her role in Rasoulof's latest. The court case has been held but no verdict has been issued yet. Golestani has also not yet released an official statement.
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