Renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese has offered his backing to an Iranian director facing imprisonment for showing a film at the Cannes Film Festival without government authorization.
Saeed Roustaee, the director who showcased "Leila's Brothers" at the 2022 French festival, reportedly received a six-month jail sentence from an Iranian court.
Festival organizers condemned this act as a "grave infringement on freedom of expression."
Scorsese shared a petition advocating for "justice" for Roustaee and the film's producer, Javad Noruzbegi.
As reported by Iranian media, both were found guilty of "promoting opposition propaganda against the Islamic system."
The film portrays the economic struggles of a Tehran-based family. After violating Iranian regulations by submitting the film to international film festivals without proper authorization, the film had already been banned in Iran. Moreover, the director refused to make the requested "corrections" ordered by the culture ministry, as disclosed by AFP news agency.
Despite the sentence, the filmmakers will only serve a fraction of their six-month prison term - approximately nine days. The remaining period will be on hold for five years, during which they will be obliged to complete a filmmaking course while upholding "national and ethical interests." Additionally, they must abstain from associating with fellow cinema professionals, as outlined by Etemad newspaper. The report also stated that an appeal against the verdict remains possible.
Further restrictions include a five-year prohibition on the 34-year-old director's ability to work.
"Leila's Brothers" competed for the Palme d'Or, the most prestigious award at Cannes, and garnered the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) accolade.
The Cannes Film Festival issued a statement denouncing the ban as "yet another significant breach of freedom of expression for Iranian artists, filmmakers, producers, and technicians." The festival expressed solidarity with those facing violence and backlash due to their creative endeavors, asserting its role as a sanctuary for such creators. Photo by Kaethe17, Wikimedia commons.