Also available in Persian — نسخه فارسی EN فا
❓ Unknown

My Favorite Cake Screening at Three International Festivals; Creators Still Banned from Leaving Iran

Feb 4, 2026 February 4, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

The film 'My Favorite Cake' has been accepted into three international film festivals despite its creators, Behtash Sanaeiha and Maryam Moghadam, being banned from leaving Iran due to political accusations. The film has received critical acclaim and won awards at the Berlin Film Festival, highlighting ongoing issues of censorship and artistic freedom in Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The acclaim for 'My Favorite Cake' highlights the tension between artistic expression and political repression in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Behtash Sanaeiha MENTIONED
Co-creator of 'My Favorite Cake'
"A prominent Iranian filmmaker facing censorship and political repression."
Maryam Moghadam MENTIONED
Co-creator of 'My Favorite Cake'
"A significant figure in Iranian cinema, also facing restrictions due to her artistic expression."
Leili Farahpour MENTIONED
Main actor in 'My Favorite Cake'
"Represents the actors affected by the regime's censorship and restrictions on artistic freedom."
Ismail Moharabi MENTIONED
Main actor in 'My Favorite Cake'
"Part of the film that challenges societal norms in Iran."
Berlin Film Festival MENTIONED
International film festival that awarded 'My Favorite Cake'
"Highlights the global recognition of Iranian cinema and the call for artistic freedom."

📰 What Happened

The film 'My Favorite Cake' has been accepted into three international film festivals, despite its creators being banned from leaving Iran due to political accusations. The film has received critical acclaim and won awards at the Berlin Film Festival, emphasizing ongoing issues of censorship in Iran.

  • The film won the FIPRESCI Prize and Best Film Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
  • The creators are banned from leaving Iran due to accusations of propaganda against the regime.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This situation underscores the struggle for artistic freedom and the impact of government censorship on cultural production in Iran.
🌍 Regional: It reflects broader issues of repression and the fight for freedom of expression in the Middle East.
🌐 International: The international recognition of Iranian cinema raises awareness about human rights issues in Iran and the need for global support.

📚 Background

Iranian filmmakers often face censorship and restrictions, particularly when their work challenges societal norms or government narratives. 'My Favorite Cake' is notable for its portrayal of women without mandatory hijab and scenes of alcohol consumption.

Censorship in Iran Artistic freedom and human rights
📡 Source: NEUTRAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The information is sourced from Cinema Etmad, which appears to provide factual reporting on the film's achievements and the creators' situation.

While Behtash Sanaeiha and Maryam Moghadam, the creators of the film 'My Favorite Cake', still do not have permission to leave Iran, this film has been accepted into the Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Vilnius festivals. According to Cinema Etmad, citing the public relations of the film 'My Favorite Cake', this film was screened at the 29th Vilnius Festival in Lithuania from March 15 to April 1 after a successful presence at the 74th Berlin Film Festival, where it received wide acclaim from critics and audiences. It will also be shown at the 43rd Istanbul Festival from April 18 to April 28 and at the 17th Frankfurt Film Festival from April 17 to April 22. At the Berlin Festival, 'My Favorite Cake' won the FIPRESCI Prize (International Critics Jury Award) as well as the Best Film Award from the Jury (World Church). The artistic couple Behtash Sanaeiha and Maryam Moghadam are still banned from leaving Iran by the Islamic Republic due to accusations such as 'propaganda against the regime and actions against national security' and cannot attend international festivals. Leili Farahpour and Ismail Moharabi are the main actors in 'My Favorite Cake'. The female actors in this film are depicted without the mandatory hijab approved by the Islamic Republic, and scenes of the main actors drinking wine are also visible. Babak Ghafouri Azar stated: 'The film 'My Favorite Cake' is one of the most important Iranian films in the past 45 years.' On the second day of the Berlin Festival, the taboo-breaking film 'My Favorite Cake' was screened in the absence of its banned creators. The presence of Iranian cinema at the Berlin Festival included the films 'My Favorite Cake' and 'The Big Yawn'. Iranian cinema in the past year has been marked by low-quality films and empty theaters. The International Critics Jury Award at the Berlin Festival was awarded to 'My Favorite Cake'. The Berlin Film Festival called for the lifting of restrictions against Behtash Sanaeiha and Maryam Moghadam, Iranian filmmakers.

🌐

Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

📰 Related Coverage

⚖️ Independent Platform — Artesh.com is not affiliated with any government, military, or political organization. Editorial Policy →