Soheila Golestani, Actress of 'Fig Seed of Temples', Nominated for Best Acting Award at Asia Pacific Awards

Soheila Golestani, an Iranian actress who gained international recognition for her role in the film 'Fig Seed of Temples' directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, has been nominated for the Best Acting Award at the 17th Asia Pacific Awards. This prestigious cinematic award is often referred to as the Asian Oscar. Since the introduction of the new category for 'Best Acting Without Gender Consideration', this is the first time all five nominees in this group are women, with Soheila Golestani being one of them. Concurrently with this news, reports have emerged about the summons and passport confiscation of several crew members of 'Fig Seed of Temples', who have previously faced security pressures. The Asia Pacific Awards ceremony will be held on December 1st in Australia, and given the reports of intensified security pressures, Golestani's attendance at the event remains uncertain. Before gaining international prominence, Golestani became a popular figure on social media after releasing a protest video in solidarity with the nationwide protests in Iran, where several theater artists appeared in black clothing and women artists performed without mandatory hijab. She, along with Hamid Pourazari and some other artists, was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic during this performance. In protest of their arrest, other artists also staged a similar performance. 'Fig Seed of Temples' was filmed secretly and underground in Iran and is a co-production of Iran, Germany, and France. Mohammad Rasoulof, the director of 'Fig Seed of Temples', was forced to flee Iran after being sentenced to eight years in prison by the Islamic Republic. After secretly leaving Iran, he officially screened 'Fig Seed of Temples' at the Cannes Film Festival in France, where it won the Jury Prize. 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 Sana, leading him to take severe actions at home that create tension. At the Cannes Film Festival, Mr. Rasoulof held images of Soheila Golestani and Mithaq Zare, the film's actors, who were under pressure from the Islamic Republic and could not leave Iran to attend the ceremony. The Asia Pacific Cinema Awards ceremony is held annually in Brisbane, Australia, aiming to honor artists and support cinema in the region. Iranian filmmakers have had a significant presence at the Asia Pacific Cinema Awards over the years, receiving various awards. This year, four out of five films nominated for Best Film are also from female directors. Tracy Vieira, the head of the Asia Pacific Cinema Awards, stated, 'In 2024, two-thirds of our nominated films are first or second films, showcasing the remarkable artistry of the new generation of Asia Pacific cinema and the unique stories they have chosen to tell.' Mohammad Rasoulof became the head of the jury at the International Film Festival in Kyiv, Ukraine. Mohammad Rasoulof stated at the Busan Festival: 'I will make films in any condition and anywhere.' Germany sent Rasoulof's film 'Fig Seed of Temples' as its representative for the Oscars. Reactions to the selection of 'Fig Seed of Temples' as Germany's representative for the Oscars; Hamid Soleiman Zadeh: 'It is very important.' Mohammad Rasoulof became the head of the jury for one of the sections of the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.