Iranian Directors' Guild Condemns Sentence Against Saeed Roustayi

The Iranian Directors' Guild condemned the six-month prison sentence and additional penalties imposed on Saeed Roustayi, director of the film 'Brothers Leila'. In a statement published on the guild's Instagram page on Wednesday, August 16, they described the issuance of such an 'odd ruling' as a 'futile attempt to humiliate this young and thoughtful filmmaker of Iran'. The guild also condemned the prison sentence, a five-year ban on meeting with cinema professionals, and mandatory education at the Qom University of Broadcasting and Television. Saeed Roustayi was sentenced to six months in prison for 'propaganda against the regime' and for making and screening 'Brothers Leila' at the Cannes Film Festival, along with a five-year ban on any filmmaking activities and socializing with active filmmakers, and required to complete a course on 'filmmaking while preserving national and ethical interests' at the Qom University of Broadcasting and Television. Meanwhile, the Iranian Directors' Guild stated that the making of 'Brothers Leila' was authorized by governmental bodies and emphasized that the foreign distributor released the film, noting its award at the Cannes International Film Festival. The guild further urged the management of Iranian cinema to stand 'beside Saeed Roustayi' 'at this critical moment' to prevent the execution of such a ruling 'so that the atmosphere of despair and hopelessness in Iranian cinema does not increase'. The ruling against Saeed Roustayi has faced criticism from several filmmakers and legal experts. Hamid Soleiman-Zadeh, a film critic, called the ruling 'ridiculous' and considered it 'a mockery of the overall status of art and artists in Iran'. Hossein Ahmadi Niaz, a lawyer, also described Roustayi's conviction as 'shameless' and emphasized that the ruling 'has no legal basis'. Saeed Roustayi, director of 'Brothers Leila', had expressed gratitude on Sunday, March 26, for the 'positive and heartwarming' response from Iranian audiences following the widespread illegal release of his work in Iran. The film 'Brothers Leila' won the best film award in the main competitive section at the Cannes International Film Festival in 2022. Hamid Soleiman-Zadeh, film critic: The ruling against Saeed Roustayi is 'ridiculous'. The conviction of the director of 'Brothers Leila' to imprisonment and a work ban; crime: propaganda against the regime. Ongoing verbal disputes between officials of the Ministry of Culture and Saeed Roustayi; 'Culture Ministry takes the initiative to avoid falling behind'. Criticism from government officials and state media of 'Brothers Leila' despite public acclaim.