Iran selects 'In the Arms of the Tree' as 2025 Oscars submission amid divide

"In the Arms of the Tree" has been selected as Iran’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards, as the industry grapples with polarization between state-approved productions and an emerging underground movement defying hijab regulations.

The decision was announced by the Farabi Cinema Foundation, which revealed that the film, directed by Babak Khajeh Pasha, had been chosen after a 10-day deliberation process by a nine-member selection committee.

According to official government news website IRNA, the selection committee, tasked with reviewing eligible films for the Oscars, voted in favor of "In the Arms of the Tree" over two other finalists. The nine-member panel included figures in Iranian cinema, such as Narges Abyar, Shabnam Moghaddami, Fereydoun Jeyrani, Ali Dehkordi, and others.

"In the Arms of the Tree" tells the story of Kimia and Farid, a couple married for twelve years, whose life crisis shatters their children’s world. The main roles in this Iranian drama are played by Maral Baniadam, Javad Ghamati, and Rouhollah Zamani.

The submission follows a process overseen by the Farabi Cinema Foundation, which operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. The Foundation is responsible for ensuring that the chosen film complies with the guidelines imposed by the government, including adherence to censorship laws and the mandatory hijab requirement for actresses. These regulations have long governed the selection process for Iran’s official Academy Award submissions.

While "In the Arms of the Tree" will represent Iran at the Oscars, a parallel trend within the country's film industry has gained momentum in recent years, particularly following the nationwide Women, Life, Freedom protests. The protests, which began in 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, have sparked a new wave of dissent within various cultural and artistic spheres, including cinema.

Iranian filmmakers, many of whom operate outside the official framework, have turned to producing films that violate the Islamic Republic's censorship laws, particularly its restrictions on the portrayal of women and political dissent. These films, while barred from official submission to the Oscars, have found success at other international film festivals and in global cinema markets, highlighting the growing divide between state-approved and underground cinema in Iran.

Some of the most notable examples include "Critical Zone" by Ali Ahmadzadeh, which presents a raw and unfiltered depiction of contemporary life in Tehran. The film, which focuses on a drug dealer's interactions with marginalized individuals, was produced without government approval and violates mandatory hijab rules. Despite this, it won the Best Film Award at the Locarno Film Festival in 2023.

Similarly, "Terrestrial Verses", directed by Ali Asgari and Alireza Khatami, offers a direct critique of the societal pressures faced by Iranian citizens. The episodic film premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and has since gained a wide audience in Europe, with over 100,000 viewers in France alone and total sales nearing $900,000.

Iran’s underground filmmakers have increasingly used cinema as a tool for resistance against government cultural restrictions. Many of these films explicitly challenge the censorship laws that govern official submissions, focusing on themes of repression, personal freedom, and social dissent.

For instance, Navid Mihan-Doost’s "Café" portrays the life of a filmmaker who is banned from working by the authorities. Shot while Mihan-Doost was on temporary leave from prison, the film provides a look at the challenges faced by critical artists in Iran. Café has been screened at various international festivals despite its director being under surveillance, and its portrayal of state censorship has drawn international acclaim.

Films such as "Dark Matter" by Karim Lakzadeh and "My Favorite Cake" by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeiha have further pushed the boundaries of Iran’s underground cinema.

"Dark Matter" tells the story of a young woman’s decision to remove her hijab during a film shoot, symbolizing the growing youth culture of defiance against government-imposed restrictions. Meanwhile, "My Favorite Cake," which focuses on a woman seeking to break free from the constraints of her monotonous life, gained international attention for its success at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival despite violating the country’s hijab laws.