Oscars 2025: Germany Submits Mohammad Rasoulof’s ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ for International Feature Race

Oscars 2025: Germany Submits Mohammad Rasoulof’s ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ for International Feature Race

As a seasoned gamer of global cinema, I can’t help but feel a thrill running down my virtual spine with the news that The Seed of the Sacred Fig, a film by Iranian dissident director Mohammad Rasoulof, will represent Germany at the 2025 Oscars. This isn’t just a film, it’s a beacon of freedom and artistic expression, a testament to the power of storytelling against oppressive regimes.


Germany has chosen “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” a film directed by Iranian dissident Mohammad Rasoulof, as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars.

For the first time, a German submission in the international Oscar competition comes from an Iranian film. Rasoulof became eligible for consideration due to the film being a joint production between Iran, France, and Germany, as well as his recent relocation to Germany this year to evade an eight-year prison sentence imposed in Iran.

The film titled “The Seed of the Sacred Fig“, that received a special jury prize at Cannes, has been prohibited in Iran. Considering Rasoulof’s vocal criticisms against the Tehran government, it is unlikely that this movie would have been put forward by the administration for consideration at the Oscars.

Neon has North American rights for the film.

Both German and Iranian film directors have a strong history of success at the Academy Awards. Germany has been awarded the Best International Feature Film prize on four occasions, with Edward Berger’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” being the most recent winner in 2022. On the other hand, Iran boasts two wins in this category, both earned by Asghar Farhadi for his films “A Separation” (in 2012) and “The Salesman” (in 2017).

For the 96th Academy Awards, all submissions must be handed in by November 14th. On December 17th, a list of potential contenders for the Best International Feature category will be revealed. Nominations will be announced on January 17th, 2025. And finally, the grand event, the 2025 Academy Awards, will take place on March 2nd.

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2024-08-22 20:24