Cannes 2024: Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof who fled country, receives 15 minutes standing ovation

Iranian filmmaker in exile, Mohammad Rasoulof witnessed an emotional moment at the Cannes 2024. His film ‘The Seed Of The Sacred Fig’ had a world premiere at the prestigious film festival. The filmmaker received a 15 minute long standing ovation for his film from the audience.

A15 minute-long standing ovation

As ‘The Seed of The Sacred Fig’ received a 15 minute long emotional ovation, Rasoulof was present to witness the moment of a lifetime. After a harrowing journey of two weeks, the filmmaker who fled Iran, arrived at the Cannes Film Festival for the screening of his film. However, the actors of the film couldn’t be there. The filmmaker found a way to include them and was seen holding pictures of the actors at Cannes red carpet.

“I have many more stories to tell, many more narratives to create and films to make,” said Rasoulof, speaking on Thursday at Cannes' Palais des Festivals. “That's what persuaded me to leave Iran. I had to go on with this mission. I feel that my mission is to connect the audiences of the world to these stories, to this Iranian narrative. This is my plan for the coming years.”

More about Mohammad Rasoulof

Rasoulof recently fled Iran and reached Germany after he was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment for making films and documentaries. His films and statements criticising the government had already earned him a long string of prison sentences, filmmaking bans, travel restrictions and the confiscation of his passport in 2017.

About ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’

‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ is set during the 2022 protests in Iran and includes real cellphone footage from the demonstrations. The film follows a fictional family of four who acutely internalize the political turmoil.

The film was shot clandestinely in Iran, with a small cast and crew. Before the movie was edited, some actors also fled Iran. But others who helped make the film have been interrogated and their families summoned for questioning, the director said earlier. The cinematographer's office was raided.

Cannes 2024

The 77th Cannes Film Festival will conclude on Saturday with the announcement of festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or. Rasoulof’s film is being seen as a strong contender for the award.

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