Iranian film-maker Mohammad Rasoulof recounted his escape from imminent imprisonment in Iran during an interview ahead of the Cannes Film Festival premiere of his latest film, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig.” Rasoulof, known for his award-winning films that often critique the Iranian regime, was sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging. To avoid this, he discarded traceable electronic devices and crossed a mountainous border on foot, eventually finding refuge in Germany.

Rasoulof’s previous legal battles include serving time for filming without a permit in 2010 and over his film “A Man of Integrity” in 2020, which the Iranian authorities claimed was anti-regime propaganda. Despite his passport being revoked in 2017, he won the top prize at the Berlin Festival in 2020 for “There Is No Evil.”

His latest film, set to premiere in Cannes on May 24, 2024, depicts an investigating judge in Tehran grappling with paranoia amidst political unrest. Rasoulof remains committed to returning to Iran to serve his sentence once he completes his films, revealing the risks film-makers face under authoritarian regimes.

After reaching Germany, Rasoulof’s identity was verified by cultural authorities, and he received papers enabling him to travel onward. German and French authorities are currently negotiating his travel to Cannes for the film premiere.

Rasoulof continues to advocate for artistic freedom in Iran, highlighting the regime’s efforts to maintain absolute control over dissenting narratives and stifle freedom of expression.