Film Duo Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha Sentenced in Iran for Award-Winning Film
- Film directors duo imprisoned for clandestine shooting of movie in Iran
WTF, right?! Here's the lowdown on this messed-up situation.
The Iranian authorities have dished out some serious prison sentences to filmmaking pair Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, known for the thought-provoking flick, "A Little Piece of the Cake" (which I guess is the same as "Keyke mahboobe man" as per your query). These film gurus recently ran into some serious trouble with a revolutionary court in Tehran, who have sentenced them to a total of 14 months in the slammer for "spreading propaganda against the system," as they spilled the beans in an Instagram post. Here's the kicker, this prison sentence can be held off for five years. On top of that, they were hit with a hefty fine. The Iranian judiciary, being the stoic, silent type, ain't uttered a peep about it.
In early 2024, Moghaddam and Sanaeeha presented "A Little Piece of the Cake" at the Berlinale, and it went down a treat with the audience. The film tells the heartwarming story of a 70-year-old widow who rediscovers love after her spouse kicks the bucket. The duo's plans to present this brilliant piece at Berlinale were foiled as they were blocked from traveling. Since then, it has garnered some major attention.
Not only these two, but their producer, Gholamreza Mousavi, also got lumped with a one-year prison sentence, as per the filmmakers' claims. The court reckons they were involved in the creation of offensive content, same as the filmmakers. Also, the seizure of film equipment was ordered. According to Iranian law, the longest prison sentence will be served if multiple penalties are passed down.
Ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Iranian film and cultural sphere has been under murderous monitoring by the authorities. Filmmakers are forced to apply for official permissions from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance before filming or screening their creations. Yet, Iran's artistic scene has thrived as a hotbed of (sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious) criticism against the system.
- Iran
- Berlinale
- Judiciary
- Tehran
- Prison sentence
Sources:
- IranWire
- Al Jazeera
- The Guardian
The Commission might consider submitting a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in light of the ongoing situation of Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who received prison sentences in Iran due to their filmmaking activities. The filmmakers, best known for their work "A Little Piece of the Cake," were sentenced in Tehran's revolutionary court for allegedly spreading propaganda against the system, and their producer, Gholamreza Mousavi, also faced a prison sentence for creating offensive content. Their cases highlight the ongoing issues in the Iranian judiciary, where authorities have been accused of stifling free speech and artistic expression, as seen through the example of these sentences handed out in 2024.
