Mohammad Rasoulof’s Surprising Oscar Journey

Mohammad Rasoulof is astonished to find himself in the running for an Oscar.

The Iranian government prohibited Rasoulof from filmmaking in 2017. Since then, every film he has created, including The Seed of the Sacred Fig—a strong contender for this year’s Academy Award for Best International Feature—has been produced clandestinely, without the approval of Tehran. The cast and crew have faced threats of imprisonment or worse if discovered. Rasoulof, who is currently facing an eight-year prison sentence for his opposition to the regime, fled Iran early last year to complete his film.

According to Academy rules, films submitted for the Best International Feature category must come from their respective countries. Films that are banned or created by dissidents typically do not qualify. For the 97th Oscars, Tehran selected Babak Lotfi Khajepasha’s family drama In the Arms of the Tree as its official entry, which ultimately did not make the shortlist.

However, since The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a German co-production and Rasoulof now holds official refugee status in Germany (where he resides in Berlin), the film was eligible as a German entry. It was chosen by Germany’s Oscar committee to represent the nation at the 2025 awards.

“It’s incredible that Germany did this,” Rasoulof remarked in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the European Film Awards in December. “I was extremely happy, of course, but this also provided me with a new perspective on the universality of cinema and how films can resonate with everyone.”

From a practical standpoint, increased attention on The Seed of the Sacred Fig can enhance the safety of Rasoulof and his crew—Soheila Golestani and Setareh Maleki, the actresses portraying sisters in the film, have also fled Iran and now live in Berlin—against potential reprisals from the Iranian government.

“The more successful the film becomes, the more it will safeguard me and the cast and crew, both inside and outside Iran,” Rasoulof explained. “An even more significant impact, I believe, is that this Oscar campaign can illuminate the struggles of filmmakers working under oppressive regimes worldwide. What excites me most is the possibility that the younger generation in Iran may feel empowered to challenge the restrictions imposed by the government.”

For the first time in a long while, Rasoulof envisions a future where his main focus can be on filmmaking.

“It’s truly a dream come true,” he stated. “I’ve always been torn between my passion for cinema and the challenges of censorship, artistic freedom, and expression. Due to my circumstances, I’ve had to prioritize the latter. Now, I finally find myself in a position where I can fully dedicate myself to cinema.”

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Person: Mohammad Rasoulof, Babak Lotfi Khajepasha, Soheila Golestani, Setareh Maleki
Company Names: The Hollywood Reporter, European Film Awards
Titles: The Seed of the Sacred Fig, In the Arms of the Tree

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