Radio Farda has learned that the creators of the film 'My Favorite Cake' have been charged with two new accusations of 'promoting corruption through the production of vulgar films and promoting corruption through the distribution and publication of vulgar films' in addition to 'propaganda against the regime' by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, Behtash Sanaeiha, one of the two directors of the film, announced on Sunday, November 6, that the travel ban on him and Maryam Moghaddam, the other director of the film, is still in effect. 'My Favorite Cake' won the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago Film Festival, but Mr. Sanaeiha told the Khabar Online website that he and his wife, Maryam Moghaddam, could not attend this cinematic event. In mid-September, it was announced that the travel ban on these two directors had been lifted, but Ms. Moghaddam announced on September 21 that her and Behtash Sanaeiha's passports were once again seized at the airport before leaving the country. She wrote on her Instagram page that despite purchasing tickets and paying for their travel expenses, they were prevented from leaving the country. The passports of Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeiha were also seized on October 3, 2023, while they intended to travel to France to complete the production of 'My Favorite Cake.' After being banned from leaving the country, they faced accusations of 'propaganda against the regime and actions against national security.' This film was made without adhering to the censorship rules of the Islamic Republic, including the mandatory hijab for female actors, and the production and screening process of 'My Favorite Cake' had previously faced protests from officials of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Meanwhile, in the two years following the protests of 2022, dozens of short and feature films have been made underground in Iran and screened at international festivals, outside of official regulations.
Creators of the Film 'My Favorite Cake' Charged with 'Promoting Corruption' in New Case
The creators of 'My Favorite Cake' face new charges of promoting corruption and propaganda against the regime, while their travel bans remain in place despite previous announcements of their lifting. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between artistic expression and governmental censorship in Iran.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Iranian filmmakers charged with promoting corruption and propaganda against the regime.
- Islamic Republic judiciary indict Behtash Sanaeiha, Maryam Moghaddam
- Iranian authorities seize passports of Behtash Sanaeiha, passports of Maryam Moghaddam
- Behtash Sanaeiha announce public
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The indictment of filmmakers underscores the Iranian regime's intolerance towards dissenting voices.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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