Renowned American-Italian film director, Martin Scorsese, has voiced his support for Iranian filmmaker Saeed Roustaee, who has been sentenced to six months in prison for his ‘unauthorized’ screening of the movie ‘Leila’s Brothers’ at the Cannes Film Festival. The New York Times reported that Scorsese took to Instagram to share a petition calling for justice for Roustaee and the film’s producer, Javad Noruzbegi. In his post, Scorsese urged his followers to sign the petition and help bring justice to Roustaee.
Roustaee and Noruzbegi were both sentenced by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, accused of participating in the opposition’s propaganda against the Islamic regime. The court stated that the defendants aligned with oppositional media and intensified the media battle against the religious authority in order to raise money and seek fame. As a result, Roustaee and Noruzbegi will serve approximately nine days of their six-month sentence, with the remainder suspended for five years, according to Etemad, an Iranian reformist newspaper.
During the suspension period, Roustaee and Noruzbegi must complete a 24-hour course on creating movies that align with the national interests and morality of Iran. They are also required to refrain from associating with other individuals in the film industry. ‘Leila’s Brothers’ depicts the story of an Iranian family struggling to escape poverty in Tehran. The film gained recognition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received top honors from the International Federation of Film Critics.
According to the New York Times, Roustaee did not have permission from Iran’s Ministry of Culture to screen the movie, and he alleged that censorship was demanded for some of the film’s crucial scenes. The sentence imposed on Roustaee has raised concerns within the Iranian cinema community, as it indicates a new wave of limitations and restrictions imposed on filmmakers.
The Iranian government’s sensitivity to criticism and dissent has intensified due to the approaching one-year anniversary of widespread anti-government protests that took place last September. The regime seeks to maintain control over the prevailing discourse, according to Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Notably, several prominent figures in Iran’s film industry have faced imprisonment in recent years for clashing with government authorities. In 2022, award-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi was also ordered to serve a six-year prison sentence for his support of protests.
Even Taraneh Alidoosti, the lead actress in ‘Leila’s Brothers,’ faced arrest in December after encouraging Iranians to support anti-government protests. She was released on bail only after spending two and a half weeks in detention.
The sentencing of Saeed Roustaee and Javad Noruzbegi and the limitations imposed on their filmmaking activities have sparked international concern among filmmakers and creatives who advocate for artistic freedom. With the support of influential figures like Martin Scorsese, the hope for justice and a more favorable climate for filmmakers in Iran continues to be pursued.
