Mohammad Rasoulof, an internationally acclaimed Iranian director, has escaped to Europe, arriving just days before the premiere of his latest film at the Cannes Film Festival.
"I arrived in Europe a few days ago after a long and complicated journey," Rasoulof shared in a statement.
The filmmaker's departure follows closely after he was sentenced to eight years in prison, flogging, and confiscation of property by Iranian authorities, as revealed by his lawyer Babak Paknia to The Associated Press.
Iranian officials have yet to comment on Rasoulof's sentencing or his recent escape. The director faced escalating legal troubles after co-signing a letter demanding authorities reduce their use of force following a deadly building collapse in Abadan.
Rasoulof's 2020 film ‘There Is No Evil’ won the prestigious Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, yet his artistic success has made him a target in Iran’s ongoing suppression of dissent.
Rasoulof's latest film, ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’, set to premiere on May 24 at Cannes, prompted the director to make a swift decision between imprisonment and exile.
“Knowing that the news of my new film would be revealed very soon, I knew that without a doubt, a new sentence would be added to these eight years,” Rasoulof explained. Choosing exile, he left Iran secretly, defying the confiscation of his passport in 2017.
The crackdown has targeted not only Rasoulof but also his collaborators, who have faced interrogations and raids. “Many people helped to make this film,” he acknowledged.
Jean-Christophe Simon, CEO of Films Boutique and Parallel45, expressed relief over Rasoulof's safe arrival in Europe and hopes for his presence at the Cannes premiere.
Meanwhile, Cannes’ artistic director Thierry Fremaux also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Rasoulof's ability to attend the event.
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