Hundreds of Renowned Filmmakers Express Solidarity with the Creators of 'My Favorite Cake'

Hundreds of renowned filmmakers from around the world have called for the lifting of restrictions and pressures against Behtash Sanaeiha and Maryam Maqdami, the creators of the acclaimed film 'My Favorite Cake.' Earlier, the organization 'International Coalition of Filmmakers at Risk' issued a statement protesting against the Islamic Republic, reaffirming its 'strong' support for Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaeiha, Iranian filmmakers. This organization, known as 'ICFR,' criticized the Islamic Republic's treatment of these two filmmakers, who are being prosecuted in Iran's Revolutionary Court for the alleged production and distribution of 'My Favorite Cake.' Secretaries of the Venice, Berlin, and Rotterdam festivals, as well as prominent figures like Juliette Binoche, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Pedro Almodóvar, Jafar Panahi, Mohammad Rasoulof, Agnieszka Holland, Céline Sciamma, Arthur Harari, Joachim Trier, and Dominique Moll are among the signatories of this statement. Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaeiha announced on Wednesday, February 24, that they will be tried on March 2 this year on charges of 'propaganda against the regime, producing and distributing a film with vulgar content, offending public morals, and screening a film without a license.' The International Coalition of Filmmakers at Risk's statement refers to the interrogation, passport confiscation, and travel bans imposed on these filmmakers by the Iranian government. According to this organization, the film 'My Favorite Cake' celebrates the romantic and intimate needs of an elderly Iranian woman and challenges many of the Islamic Republic's strict laws regarding the role and status of women in society. It is further stated that the Iranian government initially obstructed these filmmakers' travel to Germany to prevent them from attending the world premiere of their film at the Berlin festival last year. The International Coalition of Filmmakers at Risk also refers to a part of the statement sent by Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaeiha to the Berlinale, which states: 'We have come to believe that we can no longer tell the story of an Iranian woman while adhering to strict laws such as mandatory hijab. Women whose red lines prevent the depiction of their real lives as complete human beings.' This organization reminds that international awards and the successful screening of the film worldwide have not changed the Iranian government's repressive approach towards Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaeiha, who will be tried in the Revolutionary Court after prolonged interrogations at Evin Prosecutor's Office. The International Coalition of Filmmakers at Risk demands that the Iranian government 'immediately' and 'unconditionally' drop all charges against Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaeiha so they can live and create films freely. The organization has called on all its colleagues worldwide, especially filmmakers currently participating in the Berlinale and the European Film Market, to support the call for solidarity with Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaeiha. This petition has already been signed by several filmmakers, festivals, and film organizations around the world. Mahshid Zamani, a writer and film critic and a member of the Independent Filmmakers Association of Iran (IFMA), told Voice of America that the film 'My Favorite Cake' is one of the most important works of the independent cinema movement that has emerged alongside the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement in Iran. She adds that this film depicts aspects of real life in Iran that have been censored in government cinema for years, and the Islamic Republic wants to prevent the expansion of independent cinema in Iran through severe actions against its creators. This writer and film critic states that the main issue for the government is the portrayal of an unfiltered image of Iranian women and men in 'My Favorite Cake,' which showcases fundamental changes in the opinions, views, and lifestyles of Iranians, especially after the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. She further adds that the government aims to prevent the expansion of independent cinema and the activities of independent filmmakers who are no longer willing to depict human relationships and the lives of Iranians in an unrealistic manner. Ms. Zamani reminds that 'My Favorite Cake' is by no means a political work and is a 'dark romantic comedy' that narrates the ordinary lives of Iranians, addressing a human relationship and challenging decades of systematic censorship by the Islamic Republic regarding women's attire, status, and human relationships.