Minister of Culture Threatens to 'Confront' Underground Film Production and Distribution in Iran

The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance stated that the production and distribution of underground films in Iran has become an 'annoying' issue and threatened: 'Wherever we become aware, we will prevent it through legal institutions.' Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili claimed on Sunday, May 13, that the 'harm' of producing and distributing such films affects the cinematic community and added that the Ministry of Guidance considers itself a 'sanctuary of law' and 'we will well protect these legal borders.' He specifically referred to the presence of the film by Mohammad Rasoulof, the imprisoned Iranian filmmaker, at this year's Cannes Festival, stating that 'Mohammad Rasoulof has committed a clear violation that we will address according to the law within the cinematic organization.' The underground cinema movement in Iran, with Mohammad Rasoulof at the forefront, unexpectedly had his film 'The Fig Tree of Temples' added to the list of accepted works in the competition section of the 77th Cannes Festival this year. 'The Fig Tree of Temples' is about a judge of the Tehran Revolutionary Court who, amid escalating nationwide protests, becomes suspicious and paranoid even towards his wife and young daughters after losing his weapon. Based on images released from the film, 'The Fig Tree of Temples' is the latest work made inside Iran without adhering to government censorship, including the mandatory hijab for female actors. The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance did not provide statistics on the production and distribution of underground films in Iran, but the newspaper Etemad reported on May 12, citing 'an informed source,' that '71 films produced underground, including documentaries, short films, feature films, and cinematic films, have been sent from Iran to participate in the 2024 Cannes Festival.' The newspaper added: 'Among these films, there are 17 feature films that have been sent from Iran underground for participation in this festival.' The unofficial and underground cinema movement in Iran has significantly gained strength since the protests of 2022, becoming the main representative of Iranian cinema at major and prestigious global festivals. The list of films from this movement that have been screened at various festivals and, in some cases, won important awards has exceeded ten films, effectively sidelining the official and licensed cinema of Iran in terms of international presence. Security agencies have interrogated the crew of Mohammad Rasoulof's film regarding its exit from the Cannes Festival. Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison (five years enforceable), lashes, fines, and asset confiscation by Branch 29 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran. Etemad states that this sentence apparently relates to the making of this film. This year's competitors for the Palme d'Or include acclaimed names such as Francis Ford Coppola, David Cronenberg, Jacques Audiard, Yorgos Lanthimos, Sean Baker, and Paolo Sorrentino. Mohammad Rasoulof was arrested in July 2022 after signing a statement titled 'Put Down Your Gun' and was released in February of the same year, but the exit ban from the country remained in place. In previous years, he participated in the Cannes Festival with films such as 'Goodbye,' 'The Manuscripts Don't Burn,' and 'A Man of Integrity' in the Un Certain Regard section and with 'Iron Island' in the Directors' Fortnight section. Some individuals and professional organizations, including the 'Independent Filmmakers Association' and the 'Iranian Writers Association,' have called for the 'immediate and unconditional' cancellation of Mr. Rasoulof's sentence.