Summoning of the Creators of the Film 'My Favorite Cake' to the Revolutionary Court

The creators of the film 'My Favorite Cake' have stated that they have been summoned to the Islamic Revolutionary Court on charges such as 'propaganda against the regime' and 'producing vulgar content.' Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaei announced on Wednesday, February 24, that they are scheduled to be tried on March 2 for accusations including 'propaganda against the regime, preparing, producing, and distributing a film with vulgar content, offending public morality, and screening a film without a license.' The notice published by this artistic couple indicates that they will be tried in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. 'My Favorite Cake,' which won the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago Film Festival, was made without adhering to the censorship rules of the Islamic Republic, including mandatory hijab for female actors, and the production and screening process of 'My Favorite Cake' had previously faced protests from officials of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. In the two years since the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, many short and feature films have been made underground in Iran and screened at international festivals. On October 3, 2023, while attempting to travel to France to complete the production of 'My Favorite Cake,' the passports of Maryam Maqdami and Behtash Sanaei were confiscated at the airport, preventing them from attending the Chicago Film Festival. This film is a co-production of Iran, France, Sweden, and Germany, and in March 2024, it also received the Best Film award from the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) at the Berlin Film Festival. Radio Farda reported in November this year that the aforementioned artists were charged with new accusations, including 'spreading corruption through the production of vulgar films and spreading corruption through the distribution and publication of vulgar films' by the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, in addition to 'propaganda against the regime.' After the protests of 2022, dozens of short and feature films have been made underground in Iran and screened at international festivals.