‘My Favourite Cake' Directors Given Suspended Jail Sentence in Iran for Showing an Unveiled Woman
Iranian directorial duo Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha have been given a 14-month suspended jail sentence by an Iranian court on charges that include alleged production of obscene content pertaining to their film 'My Favourite Cake.'
The tender rom-com — which follows a 70-year-old woman named Mahin who decides to revitalize her love life and also appears unveiled in the film — launched from the Berlin Film Festival in 2024 and has since sold widely, giving audiences a glimpse of a rarely seen aspect of Iranian society.
More from Variety
Mohammad Rasoulof, Pedro Almodóvar, Juliette Binoche Sign Petition Supporting 'My Favourite Cake' Directors as 'Propaganda' Trial Starts in Iran
Visa Problems and a Lack of Government Financial Support Jeopardize Iranian Filmmakers' Oscar Campaign
Italian Journalist and Podcaster Cecilia Sala Freed by Iran Following 'Intensive' Diplomatic Effort
After months of interrogations and continuous travel bans over the past two years — which prevented them from attending Berlin – Moghaddam and Sanaeeha had been charged with making a film labeled as 'obscene' and 'offending public morality.' They were also accused of 'propaganda against the regime' and other charges claiming the film was 'unlawfully' screened without the Iranian authorities' permits for distribution.
The 14-month sentence, which has been suspended for five years, comes after the global film community rallied in support of the directors with a petition whose signatories included Mohammad Rasoulof — director of the Oscar-nominated feature 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig,' who in May fled from Iran to avoid prosecution related to that film — as well as Pedro Almodóvar, Juliette Binoche and Hiam Abbas, among many others.
The petition, launched by the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR), may have helped get their prison sentence suspended.
The Iranian court also convicted 'My Favourite Cake' producer Gholamreza Mousavi to the same sentence as the directors, which also includes a fine of 400 million Iranian Rials ($9,400).
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025
The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
44 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Man Thrifts Coffee Table From Facebook Marketplace—Then Learns Its Value
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A man scored a designer coffee table worth up to $8,250 for just $120 on Facebook Marketplace, and the internet is obsessed. Tyler Wallis (u/tlrwlls), 33, from Fayetteville, Arkansas, is an avid thrifter who spends his spare time browsing flea markets, thrift stores, and online resale platforms. On April 22, his efforts paid off when he stumbled across what he described as the "conversation piece" of his dreams—a unique glass flower-shaped coffee table. "I had been wanting to replace my current coffee table I had for a while but hadn't seen anything I liked yet, so I was beyond excited when I scrolled past it," Wallis told Newsweek. "I would call my decor style 'curated-eclectic with a slight mid-century modern influence,' so the unique flower shape of the table top instantly attracted me. I always joke that every piece should be a conversation piece, and that's exactly what this table is!" The post of his interesting new piece taking center stage above a cow-print rug in his living room garnered 11,000 upvotes in the subreddit "Thrift Store Hauls." Wallis, who works as a restaurant server while studying to become a registered dietitian, said his passion for interior decorating began early. He explained he had always been interested in decorating and grew up going thrifting with his older brother on the weekends. These days, he visits local thrift stores once or twice a week and rotates through flea markets every couple of weeks. He estimated that about 85 percent of his home decor is secondhand. The table was listed for $120 and located about 45 minutes from his home. Though he typically tries not to spend over $100 on any one item, Wallis sent the listing to six friends to get their opinion. The verdict? Everyone agreed he needed to get it. There was only one photo in the listing, so Wallis did a reverse image search to get a better look—and what he found shocked him. The table, it turned out, was designed by Italian furniture company Cattelan Italia in the 1990s and was listed on auction sites for between $2,250 and $8,250. "That's when I realized that was a find of a lifetime and instantly sealed the deal for me," he said. He messaged the sellers straight away to ask for measurements and arranged to pick it up that day. The only hitch? Wallis drives a compact Chevrolet Spark and wasn't sure the table would fit. After some careful measuring, he decided to take the risk and make the 45-minute drive. Tyler Wallis's living room featuring his bargain designer coffee table. Tyler Wallis's living room featuring his bargain designer coffee table. u/tlrwlls/u/tlrwlls When he arrived, an elderly couple greeted him, and the man kindly offered to help load the heavy table. While the hatchback opening proved too small, they managed to fit the table through the back passenger door vertically. Back home, Wallis wasted no time swapping it in for his old coffee table. "It's the perfect addition and brightens up the room with its reflective surface," he said. "This table has absolutely become my new personality and I don't think I'll ever stop talking about it to anyone willing to listen," Wallis said. Despite its potential resale value, he added: "Regardless of how much it's worth, I don't see myself ever getting rid of it or trying to flip it for a higher profit. To me, thrifting is about finding exciting deals, not turning a profit." Reddit users were quick to celebrate his lucky find. "The thrift gods were watching over u today!" one user wrote. "This is one where I am very glad someone else can take it home to appreciate. My chaos family could never," another joked, alluding to the table's fragile design. "I've heard that the best way of taking care of your glass coffee table is to leave it on your front lawn and send me your home address," quipped one commenter. "Love how it is slightly playful, but still posh and doesn't really cross over into 'whimsical,'" said another. "Damn good deal. Love the vibe of the room!" a final commenter added. Do you have any amazing thrifting finds that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
George Clooney's awards history at the Tonys
George Clooney's awards history at the Tonys George Clooney is one of the most decorated actors of his generation, but Sunday's 2025 Tony Awards will give him the opportunity to add more hardware to the mantle. Clooney is nominated this year for Best Actor in a Play for his portrayal of legendary CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow in the play adaptation of his film Good Night, and Good Luck. Clooney could win the first Tony Award of his entire career for playing Murrow since this is his first nomination. He's won an Oscar, but could he add a Tony to his list? He's definitely a strong contender for the award. We'll know soon enough how Clooney fares once Sunday's Tony Awards commences in New York.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Is Jannik Sinner single again after Anna Kalinskaya breakup?
Is Jannik Sinner single again after Anna Kalinskaya breakup? Jannik Sinner is -- as of publishing this -- the No. 1 men's singles tennis player in the world, and the Italian star has been linked to fellow women's tennis player Anna Kalinskaya. So with Sinner continuing to compete in tournaments from ATP Tour to Grand Slams -- including the finals of the 2025 French Open -- you might be wondering: are he and Kalinskaya still together after he confirmed it a year ago during the 2024 French Open. Back in January of 2025, it seemed up in the air. And after he was suspended three months for doping, he told reporters in May that he was no longer "in a relationship." That also means any other rumored girlfriends aren't with him -- and we've seen some names being floated out there as the top tennis player continues to compete at a high level. So there you have it. At the moment, Sinner is single.
