Reactions to the Selection of the Film 'Fig Tree Seeds' as Germany's Representative at the Oscars; Hamid Soleiman-Zadeh: It's Very Important

The selection of the film 'Fig Tree Seeds' by Mohammad Rasoulof, a prominent Iranian filmmaker, as Germany's representative at the 97th Academy Awards has sparked significant reactions, particularly among Iranians. The German Oscar committee announced on Thursday, September 1, that this film would be submitted for the international or non-English language category at the Academy Awards. Mohammad Rasoulof currently lives in Germany after leaving Iran. Hamid Soleiman-Zadeh, a writer and film critic residing in Germany, told Voice of America that the selection of 'Fig Tree Seeds' as Germany's official representative for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars is very important. He added, 'This is the first time Germany has introduced an Iranian and Persian-language film to the Academy Awards, making it an unprecedented move.' According to this film critic, the selection of 'Fig Tree Seeds' by Germany is significant for several reasons. First, the film is a co-production between Iran, France, and Germany, so there are no technical issues regarding its eligibility for the Oscars. Second, Mohammad Rasoulof is currently residing in Germany and has sought refuge there, so Germany sends a strong message of support for human rights, freedom of expression, and dissenting artists through this selection at the world's most prestigious film ceremony. Third, this selection demonstrates that cinema is a powerful art for expression in the realm of protest and resistance against censorship and repression. Fourth, this choice serves as a message to Iranian cinema and non-cinema authorities, especially in the past two years, whose wrong decisions and unjust judicial rulings have led to the forced migration of many artists, particularly in cinema. Hamid Soleiman-Zadeh concluded, 'Although this selection brings joy to all of us, there remains a sense of regret that why an Iranian film with a high chance of winning an Oscar must represent another country at such an important event.' The independent jury appointed by the German Film Academy selected 'Fig Tree Seeds' from among 13 shortlisted films for the Oscars. The German Oscar committee described the film as 'the outstanding work of one of the great directors of world cinema, who has sought refuge in Germany from religious tyranny in Iran.' The committee expressed satisfaction that Mohammad Rasoulof is 'safe' in Germany and considered his film's selection as the representative of this country at the 2025 Oscars a source of happiness. After secretly leaving Iran, Mohammad Rasoulof officially screened 'Fig Tree Seeds' at the Cannes Film Festival, winning 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 Thna, leading him to take severe actions at home that create tension. Mohammad Rasoulof stated at Cannes 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. Germany has sent Rasoulof's film 'Fig Tree Seeds' as its representative to the Oscars. Mohammad Rasoulof has been appointed as the head of the jury for one of the sections of the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. The film 'Fig Tree Seeds' is on the preliminary list of nominees for the European Film Academy Awards. Mohammad Rasoulof announced the screening of 'Fig Tree Seeds' at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. The names of the films for the Toronto Film Festival have been announced; Vishka Asayesh will appear in 'Seven Days' as a human rights activist. After receiving the Jury Prize at Cannes, Mohammad Rasoulof stated that the people of Iran have been taken hostage by the Islamic Republic. Mohammad Rasoulof received the Jury Prize at Cannes.