Mohammad Rasoulof (Persian: محمد رسولاف; born 16 November 1972) is an Iranian independent filmmaker who lives in exile in Europe. He is known for several award-winning films, including The Twilight (2002), Iron Island (2005), Goodbye (2011), Manuscripts Don't Burn (2013), A Man of Integrity (2017) and There Is No Evil (2020). For the latter, he won the Golden Bear at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival.
Mohammad Rasoulof | |
---|---|
محمد رسولاف | |
Born | Shiraz, Imperial State of Iran | 16 November 1972
Nationality | Iranian |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2001–present |
Spouse | Rozita Hendijanian[1] |
Children | 1 |
He has been arrested several times and had his passport confiscated, as the nature and content of his films has brought him into conflict with the Iranian Government. In May 2024, following the announcement that his film The Seed of the Sacred Fig was selected in the main competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Mohammad Rasoulof was sentenced by the Islamic Republic to 8 years in prison, whipping, and a fine.[2][3][4][5] Rasoulof fled to a safe house in Germany after the sentencing.[6]
Early life and education
editMohammad Rasoulof was born on 16 November 1972 in Shiraz, Iran.[7] He graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Shiraz University, and he has studied film editing at Soore University, Tehran.[8]
Career
editHis first feature-length film, The Twilight (Gagooman), was released in 2002 and was awarded the Crystal Simorgh for Best First Film at the Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran.[9] His second feature, Iron Island (Jazire-ye ahani), was released in 2005. His feature The White Meadows (Keshtzarha-ye sepid) was released in 2009.[citation needed]
Goodbye (Be omid-e didar) premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section and won the prize for directing.[10] His film Manuscripts Don't Burn also premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival,[11] where it won the FIPRESCI Prize.[12] A Man of Integrity won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.[13]
In June 2017, Rasoulof was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[14]
There Is No Evil was awarded the Golden Bear in the main competition section at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in 2020,[15] and the Sydney Film Prize at the 68th Sydney Film Festival in 2021.[16]
In 2024, Rasoulof served as the president of the New Currents jury at the 29th Busan International Film Festival.[17][18]
Legal problems and exile
editIn 2010, Rasoulof was arrested on set and accused of filming without a permit. He was sentenced to six years in prison, later reduced to one year.[19]
In September 2017 his passport was confiscated upon his return to Iran, meaning he became mamnu'-ol-xoruğ (Persian: ممنوعالخروج), i.e. banned from leaving the country. Furthermore, he was ordered to attend a court hearing.[20]
On 23 July 2019, Rasoulof was convicted by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Iran to one-year imprisonment and a two-year ban on leaving the country and on participation in social and political activity because of his film A Man of Integrity. He is accused of "gathering and collusion against national security and of propaganda against the system". In August 2019 Rasoulof appealed the verdict. On his way to the court, in an act of professional solidarity, he and his lawyer were accompanied by some of the most renowned Iranian filmmakers, including Kianoush Ayyari, Majid Barzegar, Reza Dormishian, Asghar Farhadi, Bahman Farmanara, Rakhshān Banietemad, Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, Jafar Panahi, and Hasan Pourshirazi.[21]
On 4 March 2020, Rasoulof was sentenced to one year in prison for three of his movies, which were considered "propaganda against the system". The verdict also included a ban on making films for two years. He has stated that he intends to appeal the decision and will not turn himself in, considering the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which had already led Iran to release 54,000 prisoners temporarily in order to prevent the virus from spreading.[22]
Rasoulof was originally scheduled to take part in the 2023 Cannes Film Festival as a jury member of the Un Certain Regard section. However, he was arrested in July 2022 after criticising the government's crackdown on protestors in the southwestern city of Abadan over a deadly building collapse. He was temporarily released from prison in February 2023 due to his health. Rasoulof was later pardoned and sentenced to a year in prison and a two-year ban on leaving Iran for "propaganda against the regime."[23]
Following the announcement that his film The Seed of the Sacred Fig was selected in the main competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the cast and crew were interrogated by Iranian authorities, banned from leaving the country, and pressured to convince Rasoulof to withdraw the film from the festival line-up.[24][25][26] On 8 May 2024, Rasoulof's lawyer announced that the director has been sentenced to eight years in prison as well as flogging, a fine and confiscation of his property.[27]
Shortly after, Rasoulof, and some crew members, managed to flee from Iran.[28] While appealing his sentence, Rasoulof planned his "exhausting, long, complicated, and anguishing journey" out of Iran, which took a total of 28 days. He traveled on foot for several hours with a guide to a village at the border on the Iranian side, where he waited for the appropriate time to cross. He was transferred to a safe house in a village on the non-Iranian side, where he waited for an extended period of time. He was then moved to a town with a German consulate. His passport had been seized by Iranian authorities, so he had no documents to identify himself. However, Rasoulof previously lived in Germany so he contacted the German authorities, who were able to identify him using his fingerprints and issued him a temporary travel document which he used to travel to Germany.[29][30][31] On 24 May 2024, he attended the red carpet in Cannes, where later he received a Special Award for his film.[32][33]
Filmography
editYear | English Title | Original Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | The Twilight | گاگومان | Yes | Yes | No | Docu-Fiction |
2005 | Iron Island | جزیره آهنی | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2008 | Head Wind | باد دبور | Yes | Yes | Yes | Documentary |
2009 | The White Meadows | کشتزارهای سپید | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2010 | Gesher | No | No | Yes | ||
2011 | Goodbye | به امید دیدار | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2013 | Manuscripts Don't Burn | دستنوشتهها نمیسوزند | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2017 | A Man of Integrity | لِرد | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2019 | The Red Hatchback | هاچبک قرمز | No | Yes | Yes | Co-written with Ashkan Najafi; Co-produced with Kaveh Farnam, Farzad Pak, Rozita Hendijanian |
2019 | Son-Mother | مادر-پسر | No | Yes | Yes | Co-produced with Kaveh Farnam, Farzad Pak |
2020 | There Is No Evil | شیطان وجود ندارد | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2022 | Jenayat-e amdi | جنایت عمدی | Yes | Yes | Yes | Documentary |
2024 | The Seed of the Sacred Fig | دانه انجیر مقدس | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-produced with Rozita Hendijanian, Amin Sadraei, Jean-Christophe Simon, Mani Tilgner |
Awards and nominations
edit- ^ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.
References
edit- ^ A Man of Integrity
- ^ Shoard, Catherine (8 May 2024). "Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (8 May 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison, Flogging & Confiscation Of Property, Says Lawyer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman; Vivarelli, Nick (8 May 2024). "Iranian Filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison and Flogging, Lawyer Says". Variety. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Mohammad Rasoulof Flees Iran for Europe After Receiving 8-Year Prison Sentence for Cannes-Bound 'Seed of the Sacred Fig'". Variety. 13 May 2024.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (13 May 2024). "Dissident Iranian Filmmaker Rasoulof Flees Country: "With a Heavy Heart, I Chose Exile"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Silverdocs Film Festival Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Mohammad Rasoulof Biography (in English)
- ^ IFFR 2022: Mohammad Rasoulof
- ^ "Internet Movie Database" 17 March 2010 "Source 2" 23 December 2020
- ^ a b "PRIZES OF UN CERTAIN REGARD 2011". Festival de Cannes. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "2013 Official Selection". Festival de Cannes. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Richford, Rhonda (25 May 2013). "Cannes: 'The Missing Picture' Wins Un Certain Regard Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Un Certain Regard 2017 Prizes". Festival de Cannes. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (28 June 2017). "Academy Invites Record 774 New Members: 39 Percent Female and 30 Percent People of Color". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Meza, Ed (29 February 2020). "Berlin Film Festival 2020: 'There Is No Evil' Wins Golden Bear". Variety. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ a b Jefferson, Dee (14 November 2021). "Sydney Film Festival's top prize goes to Mohammad Rasoulof's There Is No Evil, about capital punishment in Iran". ABC News. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "The 29th Busan International Film Festival: New Currents Juries". Busan International Film Festival. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Rosser, Michael (3 September 2024). "Busan film festival to open with Park Chan-wook produced Netflix drama 'Uprising' amid ongoing challenges". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Iranian Students News Agency 20 December 2010 "Source 3 Archived 23 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine" 22 December 2010
- ^ Holdsworth, Nick (18 September 2017). "Iran Confiscates Filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof's Passport After Return From Telluride". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "Hamrahi-ye Chehreha-ye Shakhes-e Sinama-ye Iran ba Rasoulof ta Dadgah : Hame bara-ye yeki (Famous Person of Iranian Sinema Accompany Rasoulof to the Court : All for One)". hamdelidaily.ir. Retrieved 8 August 2019.(fa)
- ^ "Golden Bear winner Mohammad Rasoulof sentenced to jail in Iran". The Guardian. Associated Press. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ Bergeson, Samantha (22 April 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof Sets Cannes Return with 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' — Though Whether He'll Be There in Person Is Unclear". IndieWire. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Iranian authorities ban film crew from attending Cannes Film Festival". Euronews. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Cannes: Iranian Authorities Pressuring 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' Director to Withdraw Film from Competition". World of Reel. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Rosser, Michael (1 May 2024). "Iran bans actors, crew of Mohammed Rasoulof's 'The Seed Of The Sacred Fig' from attending Cannes". Screen International. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (8 May 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison, Flogging & Confiscation Of Property, Says Lawyer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Chrisafis, Angelique; Shoard, Catherine (13 May 2024). "Iranian film director Mohammad Rasoulof flees Iran to avoid prison". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (23 May 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof On His "Anguishing" 28-Day Journey To Escape Iran After Covertly Shooting 'The Seed Of The Sacred Fig' & How He Landed In Germany – Cannes". Deadline. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Zilko, Christian (18 May 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof Details His 'Exhausting and Dangerous' Escape from Iran Before 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' Debuts at Cannes". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (24 May 2024). "How Mohammad Rasoulof Escaped Iran and Why He Will Continue Fighting: "I Will Never Forget That the Islamic Republic Is a Terrorist"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Yuan, Jada (24 May 2024). "Iranian director risks Cannes appearance after escaping arrest". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "List of winners at the 77th Cannes Film Festival". Associated Press. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "I Am Not a Witch, Taste of Cement Win Major Awards at 2017 ADL Film Fest". Adelaide Film Festival. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Amiens 2011 : avec Joe Dante et Mohammad Rasoulof | Accréds l'actualité des festivals de cinéma". Accreds.fr. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Antalya Golden Orange FF 2011: Winner -We Will See Good Days". Film New Europe Association. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Antalya Film Festival winners announced". Daily Sabah. 28 October 2017.
- ^ "International Competitions Awards and Juries 2017". Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (in Turkish). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Mohammad Rasoulof". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Prémios | Awards 2007". Festival de Cinema de Avanca (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ Rogers, Thomas (29 February 2020). "'There Is No Evil,' About Executions in Iran, Wins Top Prize at Berlin Film Festival". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Hudson, David (3 March 2020). "Politics and Plaudits in Berlin". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (29 February 2020). "Berlin: Iranian Drama 'There Is No Evil' Wins Indie Jury Honors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Nominations announced for the British Independent Film Awards 2024". British Film Institute. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ "THERE IS NO EVIL » CIFF". Calgary International Film Festival. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "OFFICIAL SELECTION 2011". Festival de Cannes. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "The Cannes Film Festival Announced its Winners Last Night". Doha Film Institute. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "66th Cannes Film Festival". FIPRESCI. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Additions to the selection of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "The 77th Festival de Cannes winners' list". Festival de Cannes. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Balaga, Marta (25 May 2024). "Mohammad Rasoulof's 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' Wins Fipresci Award at Cannes: 'A Courageous Story'". Variety. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Le Prix du Jury œcuménique 2024 décerné à 'Les Graines du Figuier Sauvage'". Jury oecumenique au Festival de Cannes (in French). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Au Festival de Cannes, il n'y a pas que la Palme d'or, voici les autres films primés sur la Croisette". France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (in French). 25 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Prix des Cinémas Art et Essai 2024 : LES GRAINES DU FIGUIER SAUVAGE de Mohammad Rasoulof". Association Française des Cinémas d'Art et d'Essai (in French). Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Fagerholm, Matt. ""Killing Jesús" Wins the Roger Ebert Award at the 2017 Chicago International Film Festival". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
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- ^ "2007, 13th Annual Awards, March 18, 2007". Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Nickoloff, Annie (19 April 2021). "Cleveland International Film Festival announces 2021 award winners". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "THERE IS NO EVIL | Crested Butte Film Festival". Eventive. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
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External links
edit- Mohammad Rasoulof at IMDb
- Mohammad Rasoulof at Rotten Tomatoes
- International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran blog - 21 December 2010: Panahi's Lawyer Concerned About Severe, Disproportionate Sentence
- Slant Magazine Archived 3 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine - Articles tagged "Mohammad Rasoulof"
- Silverdocs Film Festival - Biographical information for "Mohammad Rasoulof"
- Kino International - US distributor's presskit for Rasoulof's feature, "Iron Island"