Rotterdam Fest Director Expresses Solidarity For ‘The Seed Of The Sacred Fig’ Actress Soheila Golestani Following Iran Travel Ban​on January 31, 2025 at 12:48 pm

Rotterdam Film Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic has spoken out against the travel ban preventing The Seed of the Sacred Fig actress Soheila Golestani from leaving Iran to serve on this year’s jury.

Golestani was originally unveiled as part of the festival’s Tiger Competition jury, alongside Yuki Aditya, Winnie Lau, Peter Strickland and Andrea Luka Zimmerman.

“We are saddened but not surprised that Soheila has been unable to leave Iran and join us in Rotterdam for the Tiger Jury — having seen Mohammad’s journey with this vital project is to have witnessed time and again the real consequences of speaking truth to power,” said Kaludjercic, referring to director Mohammad Rasoulof.

He is currently living in exile in Germany, after fleeing Iran last year, shortly after completing the underground shoot of The Seed of the Sacred Fig.

“Mohammad joins us both to share his film and also participate on a panel about cinema in the face of a rise of authoritarianism — and Soheila’s experience underscores how real and urgent these issues are.

“We stand with her in solidarity and hope that she is supported by the global film community at this time — as she is the victim of oppression and a backlash for speaking out that many artists know all too well,” added Kaludjercic.

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.

Rasoulof is accompanying a screening of his film and is also scheduled to speak on a panel titled “Cinema and the Rise of Authoritarianism” on February 3.

The filmmaker fled Iran last year and is wanted by authorities. He has been sentenced him to eight years in prison alongside a series of physical punishments.

The Seed of the Sacred Fig is nominated for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Oscars and premiered in Cannes last May, where it won the Special Jury Prize.