Latest news with #InternationalCoalitionforFilmmakersatRisk
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘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
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Juliette Binoche, Pedro Almodóvar & Mohammad Rasoulof Join 3,000 Signatories Of Petition In Support Of Iranian Filmmakers Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha
Juliette Binoche, Pedro Almodóvar and Mohammad Rasoulof have joined a campaign in support of persecuted Iranian filmmakers Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha. The wife and husband directorial duo have been in the crosshairs of Iran's authoritarian Islamic Republic regime since 2023 over their feature film My Favourite Cake, which world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2024. More from Deadline Iranian 'My Favourite Cake' Filmmakers Sound Alarm Over Court Summons & Anonymous Death Threats Juliette Binoche Named 2025 Cannes Film Festival President Of The Jury Rotterdam Fest Director Expresses Solidarity For 'The Seed Of The Sacred Fig' Actress Soheila Golestani Following Iran Travel Ban The heartwarming story of love and loss revolves around 70-year-old widow, played by Lily Farhadpour, who reconnects with life's small pleasures in the face of solitude, following her husband's death. The Iranian authorities are unhappy with the film because it flies in the face of their sexist, draconian laws around what women should wear and how they should act, with the protagonist seen without a hijab head covering, sharing a drink with a suitor and dancing. The Islamic Republic government slapped a travel ban on Moghadam and Sanaeeha, preventing any travel for the last two years, including attending the Berlinale; subjected them to a gruelling investigation and has recently filed trumped up charges against the couple, who are set to appear in Iran's Revolutionary Court on March 1. This worrying development could result in the filmmakers being imprisoned in the country's notoriously harsh Evin jail. At the same time, the couple have also been receiving anonymous death threats, in what is believed to be state-backed intimidation. Actress Binoche as well as directors Almodóvar and Rasoulof, who fled his native Iran last year to escape a tough prison sentence for his work, are among 3,000 cinema professionals to have signed a petition, calling on the Islamic Republic authorities to immediately and unconditionally clear all the charges levelled at the couple. The petition, which can he accessed here, reads: 'After months of interrogation, and after continuous travel bans for the past two years, they [Moghadam and Sanaeeha] are now due to appear in Iran's Revolutionary Court on March 1st, 2025 because of their Berlinale-awarded film My Favourite Cake, which has been labelled as 'obscene', as 'offending public morality', as 'propaganda against the regime', and as 'unlawfully' screened without the authorities' permits for distribution.' 'In the light of these persecutions, we stand uniformly by Maryam and Behtash and their freedom and right to create and to express themselves, just like any filmmaker and artist should be able to.'The petition has been instigated by the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR), a joint venture between the European Film Academy, the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). Alongside IDFA's head Orwa Nyrabia and Rotterdam's artistic director Vanja Kaludjercic, other festival directors signing the petition include Venice's Alberto Barbera and the Berlinale's Tricia Tuttle. Other top cinema figures joining the campaign include Céline Sciamma, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Agnieszka Holland, Hiam Abbass, Jafar Panahi, Juliette Binoche, Isabel Coixet, Agustín Almodóvar, Marie-Ange Luciani, Nina Menkes, Robin Campillo, Rebecca Zlotowski, Alba Rohrwacher, Radu Mihaileanu, Sepideh Farsi, Joachim Trier, Volker Schlöndorff, Avi Mograbi, Laura Poitras, Emmanuelle Béart, Sandrine Bonnaire, Ira Sachs, Virginie Efira, Xavier Beauvois, Alice Diop and Philip Knatchbull. Best of Deadline All The Songs In 'Running Point' On Netflix: From Tupac To Steve Lacy 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery How To Watch The 2025 Oscars Online And On TV
Euronews
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Global filmmaking community support Iranian directors before 'propaganda' trial starts in Iran
The global film community is showing support for Iranian directing duo Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha ahead of their trial over 'propaganda against the regime' allegations. After months of interrogations and travel bans over the past two years, Moghaddam and Sanaeeha are set to face Iran's Revolutionary Court on Saturday (1 March). The charges leveled against them concern the production and distribution of their Berlinale-premiering film My Favourite Cake – our joint Number 1 film of 2024 alongside Mohammad Rasoulof's now-Oscar nominated film The Seed of the Sacred Fig. The filmmaking duo's film follows a lonely septuagenarian widow Mahin (Lily Farhadpour) in Tehran who rediscovers her desires in a country where women's rights are heavily restricted. They are charged with making a film labeled as 'obscene' and 'offending public morality.' They are also accused of 'propaganda against the regime' and other charges claiming the film was 'unlawfully' screened without the Iranian authorities' permits for distribution. Signatories of the petition, launched by the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR), include Rasoulof, who fled Iran last year to avoid prosecution related to The Seed of the Sacred Fig — as well as Pedro Almodóvar, Juliette Binoche, Agnieszka Holland, Céline Sciamma, Joachim Trier, Hiam Abbas, the directors of the Berlin, Venice and Rotterdam, as well as the European Film Academy. The petition has gathered more than 3,200 signatures so far. It reads: We, the undersigned, call upon the Islamic Republic of Iran's authorities to immediately and unconditionally clear all the charges levelled at filmmakers Maryam Moghadam & Behtash Sanaeeha. After months of interrogation, and after continuous travel bans for the past two years, they are now due to appear in Iran's Revolutionary Court on March 1st, 2025 because of their Berlinale-awarded film My Favourite Cake, which has been labelled as "obscene", as "offending public morality", as "propaganda against the regime", and as 'unlawfully' screened without the authorities' permits for distribution. In the light of these persecutions, we stand uniformly by Maryam & Behtash and their freedom and right to create and to express themselves, just like any filmmaker and artist should be able to.' In our interview with Mohammad Rasoulof, he stated: 'I'd like to flag up the filmmakers of My Favourite Cake, Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who are undergoing all sorts of problems inside Iran. They are banned from leaving the country because of their films, and in fact, they are being investigated for similar charges for spreading prostitution and corruption on Earth, for instance. This atmosphere will be the cause of a series of new problems because in the world now, it's not possible to control content, like the Iranian regime does. The result of this is more and more repression, and acts of subversion will surface, as the government cannot control everything.' You can read the full interview here. In our review for My Favourite Cake, we wrote: 'My Favourite Cake is a gently subversive film that dares to pepper radicalism within a poignant tragicomedy. (...) Behind a seemingly harmless set up and a Linklater-ish second half lies messages of female empowerment that are not tolerated under the nation's repressive regime. Driven by two magnificent central performances, which make the allegorically loaded epilogue truly resonant, Moghaddam and Sanaeeh's film is a subtle but powerful snapshot of the harsh realities facing Iranian women, as well as a commentary about what could befall those daring to take control of their destinies. It's impressive and haunting in equal measure.'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mohammad Rasoulof, Pedro Almodóvar, Juliette Binoche Sign Petition Supporting ‘My Favourite Cake' Directors as ‘Propaganda' Trial Starts in Iran
Support is mounting across the global film community for Iranian directing duo Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha ahead of their trial over 'propaganda against the regime' allegations related to their film 'My Favourite Cake.' The two are set to face Iran's Revolutionary Court on Saturday. Signatories include Mohammad Rasoulof — the 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, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Agnieszka Holland, Hiam Abbas, Isabel Coixet and the directors of the Venice, Berlin, Rotterdam and Sydney film festivals. The petition, launched by the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR), has gathered over 3,000 signatures so far. More from Variety Visa Problems and a Lack of Government Financial Support Jeopardize Iranian Filmmakers' Oscar Campaign 'Seed of the Sacred Fig' Director Mohammad Rasoulof Says Iranian Regime Is 'Waiting to Announce the Verdict' for Persecuted Cast and Crew Until 'After the Oscars' Mohammad Rasoulof Watched 'There Is No Evil' With His Own Prison Guards 'Seven Nights in a Row': 'I Was Bound to the Bed and They Were Complimenting Me' After months of interrogations and continuous travel bans over the past two years — which prevented them from attending last year's Berlin Film Festival, where 'My Favourite Cake' bowed in competition — Moghaddam and Sanaeeha are now due to appear in court. They are charged with making a film labeled as 'obscene' and 'offending public morality.' They are also accused of 'propaganda against the regime' and other charges claiming the film was 'unlawfully' screened without the Iranian authorities' permits for distribution. 'In the light of these persecutions, we stand uniformly by Maryam and Behtash and their freedom and right to create and to express themselves, just like any filmmaker and artist should be able to,' the ICFR petition reads. Since its 2024 Berlin bow, 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 — has sold widely around the world and given audiences a glimpse of a rarely seen aspect of Iranian society. As Variety critic Jessica Kiang put it in her 'My Favourite Cake' review, 'Mahin embarks on an extremely genteel form of cruising, allowing the character's sense of mischief and self-aware daring to peek through her natural, and socially mandated, reserve.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in March 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win?
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pedro Almodóvar, Ali Abbasi and More Film Figures Fight Prosecution of Iranian Directors
The international film community is in uproar over the summoning of Iranian filmmakers Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha to court in their native country amid the production and distribution of their 2024 Berlin Film Festival feature My Favourite Cake. The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR) has reiterated its unequivocal support for Moghadam and Sanaeeha, currently awaiting the start of their trial with Iran's Revolutionary Court on Mar. 1. More from The Hollywood Reporter MIP London Panel Takes Optimistic Stance on AI, Citing 'Shogun' Success and 'Brutalist' Concerns Drake Cancels Remaining Australia, New Zealand Tour Dates Anti-Elon Musk Poster "Don't Buy a Swasticar" in London Goes Viral The charges leveled against them concern the production and distribution of their My Favourite Cake, a movie about a woman in Tehran who rediscovers her desires in a country where women's rights are heavily restricted. Authorities first raided the offices of the film's editor in 2023, the ICFR said, with Moghadam and Sanaeeha 'under continuous scrutiny of the Iranian regime.' The Iranian government's persecution efforts led to a travel ban for the directors, which meant they could not attend their film's world premiere at the 2024 Berlinale in person, they told THR at the time. The ICFR has now launched a petition gathering momentum among the international film community. It currently at 2,200+ signatures and has been signed so far by industry-famous creatives Pedro Almodóvar, Juliette Binoche, Céline Sciamma, Joachim Trier, Hiam Abbass, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Ali Abbasi and Arthur Harari, as well as such institutions as Berlinale, Venice Film Festival, Quinzaine des Cinéastes, the European Film Academy and Sydney Film Fest. At the 2024 Berlinale, a statement from Moghadam and Sanaeeha read: 'We have come to believe that it is no longer possible to tell the story of an Iranian woman while obeying strict laws such as the mandatory hijab. Women for whom the red lines prevent the depiction of their true lives, as full human beings. This time, we decided to cross all of the restrictive red lines, and accept the consequences of our choice to paint a real picture of Iranian women – images that have been banned in Iranian cinema ever since the Islamic Revolution.' After a long string of interrogations at the Evin Security Prosecutor's Office, the duo are now expected in court on Saturday on allegations of 'propaganda against the regime,' 'production, distribution and duplication of a film with obscene content,' 'offending public decency and morality' and 'screening the film without obtaining a screening/distribution license.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter The Best Anti-Fascist Films of All Time Dinosaurs, Zombies and More 'Wicked': The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025 From 'A Complete Unknown' to 'Selena' to 'Ray': 33 Notable Music Biopics
