Director Mohammad Rasoulof, winner of the Golden Bear, is sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran

The film director Mohammad Rasoulofwho won the Golden Bear in 2020 for There Is No Evilhe was sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging for crimes against national security in Iran.

The information was confirmed by his lawyer last Wednesday, 8. On X (formerly Twitter), Babak Paknia claimed that an Iranian court considered Rasoulf’s films and documentaries as “examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the country’s security.”

In addition, the director also had his property confiscated and will have to pay an unspecified fine.

In addition to the Golden Bear, Mohammad was also recognized at Cannes in 2017 for his film A Man of Integrity. The Seed of the Sacred Figthe director’s most recent work, should debut next week in the next edition of the festival.

Before this conviction, he and his production team had already been pressured by the Iranian government. His lawyer stated that some actors were interrogated and prevented from leaving the country. Authorities also requested that Rasoulf withdraw the film from the festival.

Babak Paknia also used his social media to reveal that he does not know if the director will be present at the screening of the feature film at Cannes.

According to Human Rights Watch, he had already been sentenced to one year in prison in 2022. In the same year, a court also banned Mohammad from making films on charges of “propaganda against the system”.