Rasoulof Dedicated 'Fig Seed of Temples' to Mohammadi and Hamedi

Mohammad Rasoulof, the renowned Iranian filmmaker, dedicated his latest work titled 'Fig Seed of Temples' to Elham Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, two Iranian journalists, at the Vienna International Film Festival in Austria on Tuesday, October 30. These two journalists have recently been summoned to prison to serve a five-year sentence ordered by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic. This sentence has faced widespread protests from journalists, artists, activists, and human rights organizations around the world, calling for its annulment. At the Vienna festival, while dedicating the film 'Fig Seed of Temples' to Mohammadi and Hamedi, Rasoulof spoke about these two Iranian journalists who drew the ire of the Iranian government for reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police and the subsequent nationwide protests. Mohammadi and Hamedi, who were arrested for reporting on Amini's death, were temporarily released from Evin Prison after spending about 400 days in detention on a bail of 10 billion tomans. One of the charges against them was 'collaboration with a hostile government,' which was dismissed in the appeals court. The U.S. government has repeatedly denied any connection or collaboration with these journalists and described such sentences as the Islamic Republic's attempt to suppress freedom of expression in Iran. Mohammad Rasoulof, a prominent figure in Iranian cinema, is known for works such as 'The Manuscripts Don’t Burn,' 'A Man of Integrity,' and 'There Is No Evil.' He secretly left Iran last summer after receiving a sentence of lashes and imprisonment from the Islamic Republic and went to Germany. Rasoulof's latest film, 'Fig Seed of Temples,' which he secretly made in Iran, won the Jury Special Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and has been selected as Germany's representative for the Oscars. 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 to tensions at home. At Cannes, Rasoulof stated that this film is about the family of one of the officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Court during the recent nationwide protests in Iran, drawn from his personal experiences with the country's judicial system. On Thursday, November 3, Rasoulof will receive the Hollywood Reporter Special Award while participating in a Q&A session at the Cologne International Film Festival in Germany. Tens of thousands have called for the suspension of the sentences of the two journalists; the judiciary insists on enforcing the sentences. The journalists' guild has called for the suspension of Hamedi and Mohammadi's prison sentences. Lawyers reported the issuance of a notice for the enforcement of the prison sentence; in the next five days, Hamedi and Mohammadi must go to prison. The lawyers of Hamedi and Mohammadi stated that enforcing the prison sentence is meaningless and the case should be closed. Soheila Golestani, an actress in 'Fig Seed of Temples,' has been nominated for the Best Actress award at the Asia Pacific Awards. Mohammad Rasoulof has become the head of the jury at the Kyiv International Film Festival in Ukraine. At the Busan festival, Rasoulof stated that he will make films under any circumstances and anywhere. The Association of Expatriate Artists urged the Oscars to pay attention to underground filmmakers in Iran. Iranian dissident filmmakers called on the Academy Awards to reconsider the body that selects Iran's representative film. Germany has sent Rasoulof's 'Fig Seed of Temples' as its representative for the Oscars. Reactions to the selection of 'Fig Seed of Temples' as Germany's representative at the Oscars; Hamid Soleiman-Zadeh stated: it is very important.