Berlinale demands charges be dropped for Iranian filmmakers

Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam
Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam

The Berlinale has joined the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR), urging Iran to drop charges against filmmakers Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who face court on Saturday.

The two directors are being prosecuted over their Berlinale-awarded film My Favorite Cake, which was part of the festival’s 2024 lineup.

The Berlin International Film Festival, commonly known as Berlinale, is one of the most important and politically engaged film festivals globally.

The festival, in a statement published on Friday, described the prosecution of the two directors as “part of a broader crackdown on artistic expression in Iran.”

Moghadam and Sanaeeha, known for their previous festival appearances, were unable to attend their film’s premiere last year due to a travel ban imposed on them by Iranian authorities. Following months of interrogation and two years of restrictions on their movement, they now face serious legal pursuit that could further curtail their artistic freedoms.

The prosecution of Moghadam and Sanaeeha follows a pattern of increasing restrictions on Iranian filmmakers. In December 2023, hundreds of prominent filmmakers, including globally renowned directors and actors, signed an open letter condemning Iranian authorities for charging the duo with crimes including propaganda against the system, obscenity, and violating public morality. The petition, launched on Change.org, gained massive international support, with figures such as Pedro Almodóvar, Juliette Binoche, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Jafar Panahi, and Agnieszka Holland signing in solidarity.

My Favourite Cake has been at the center of controversy for defying Iran’s strict censorship laws. The film, which explores the emotional struggles of a middle-aged woman in Tehran, was awarded the FIPRESCI Jury Prize at Berlinale and the Silver Hugo at the Chicago Film Festival. Despite international recognition, Iranian authorities have deemed it unacceptable, accusing its creators of spreading dissent.