Iran Prevents Soheila Golestani from Attending Rotterdam Film Festival

The Iranian government has barred Soheila Golestani, an Iranian actress and filmmaker, from leaving the country to participate in the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands. She was selected as one of the judges for the main competitive section of the festival but could not attend this cinematic event. Soheila Golestani is known for her role in the film 'The Fig Tree of Temples' directed by the renowned Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, which is being screened in the 'Lime Light' section of the Rotterdam festival. Rasoulof secretly made this film in Iran, which has been nominated for an Oscar as Germany's representative. He illegally left the country last summer and premiered 'The Fig Tree of Temples' at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Golestani has been accused of 'propaganda against the regime and promoting immorality' due to her role in this film and is not allowed to leave Iran. Her court session has been held, but no verdict has been issued yet. The Iranian government has also filed legal cases against several other individuals involved in 'The Fig Tree of Temples' on similar charges. This work is inspired by the widespread protests in Iran in 2022, known as the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. Golestani was supposed to be part of the jury alongside Yuki Aditya, Vinnie Lau, Peter Strickland, and Andrea Luka Zimmerman in the main competitive section of the Rotterdam festival. Mohammad Rasoulof will participate in a special program titled 'Cinema and the Rise of Despotism' on February 1 at the Rotterdam festival and will speak to attendees. Recognized as a global figure in Iranian cinema, he fled the country after being sentenced to eight years in prison and lashes by the Islamic Republic last year. At Cannes, Rasoulof appeared on the red carpet with images of Soheila Golestani and Mithaq Zare, actors from the film who could not leave Iran, and spoke multiple times about their situation. He stated that 'The Fig Tree of Temples' is about the family of an Islamic Revolutionary Court official during the recent nationwide protests in Iran, stemming from his personal experiences with the Islamic Republic's judicial system. The film tells the story of a Tehran Revolutionary Court investigating judge named 'Iman' who suffers from distrust and paranoia. As political protests in Iran escalate, the judge's weapon mysteriously disappears. Judge Iman becomes suspicious of his wife Najmeh and his daughters Rezvan and Thna, leading him to take severe actions at home that create tension. Soheila Golestani was arrested during the nationwide protests in 2022 for supporting protesters and opposing compulsory hijab. The Rotterdam Film Festival begins on Thursday, January 30 (February 11). Sources: Deadline, Rotterdam Film Festival website, and Voice of America.