‘The Seed Of The Sacred Fig’ Actress Soheila Golestani Barred From Leaving Iran To Serve On Rotterdam Jury

Iranian filmmaker and actress Soheila Golestani, who was unveiled as part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s (IFFR) Tiger Competition jury, has been barred from leaving Iran to travel to the festival.

Golestani starred in Mohammad Rasoulof’s Oscar-nominated The Seed of the Sacred Fig which is screening in the festival’s Limelight section.

Deadline understands that Golestani has been accused of propaganda against the Iranian regime and promoting immorality because of her role in the film, charges which she denies. The court has been held, but no verdict has been issued yet.

Taking inspiration from Iran’s Woman Life Freedom protests, the film revolves around a devout man who is promoted to the position of investigating judge at the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, just as his daughters become swept up in the pro-equal rights and democracy movement.

Golestani was slated to sit on the competition jury alongside Yuki Aditya, Winnie Lau, Peter Strickland and Andrea Luka Zimmerman.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig director Mohammad Rasoulof will appear at the festival and is also scheduled to speak on a panel titled “Cinema and the Rise of Authoritarianism” on February 3.

Back in Iran, the filmmaker who fled the country last year is wanted by authorities who have sentenced him to eight years in prison alongside a series of physical punishments.

The Seed Of The Sacred Fig Tree premiered in Cannes last May, where it won the Special Jury Prize. Golestani and male lead Missagh Zare were unable to leave Iran for the premiere. Rasoulof signaled their absence by holding up photos of them on red carpet and at the photocall.