Clear Maryam & Behtash of All Charges Now!

The ICFR calls on the Iranian government to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against filmmakers Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha

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The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR) reiterates its unequivocal support for Iranian filmmakers Maryam Moghadam & Behtash Sanaeeha, currently awaiting the start of their trial with Iran's Revolutionary Court this March 1. The charges levelled against them concern the production and distribution of their Berlinale-winning film, My Favourite Cake, currently in theatres and on VOD platforms across the world.

Ever since 2023, when the authorities first raided the offices of their film's editor, Moghadam and Sanaeeha have been under continuous scrutiny of the Iranian regime. Their film, My Favourite Cake, celebrates the romantic and intimate needs of an older-generation Iranian woman — and therefore defies many of the Islamic Republic's strict and strongly enforced ideas about a woman's role and visibility in society. Initially, the government's persecution efforts led to a travel ban for the directors, which meant they could not attend their film's world premiere at the 2024 Berlinale in person.

At the time, a statement on their behalf was read at the Berlinale. The statement included Moghadam & Sanaeeha's ethical and directorial vision, saying, "We have come to believe that it is no longer possible to tell the story of an Iranian woman while obeying strict laws such as the mandatory hijab. Women for whom the red lines prevent the depiction of their true lives, as full human beings. This time, we decided to cross all of the restrictive red lines, and accept the consequences of our choice to paint a real picture of Iranian women – images that have been banned in Iranian cinema ever since the Islamic Revolution." Read their full statement right here.

The film's continued success, including Berlinale's FIPRESCI and Ecumenical Jury prizes as well as festival and theatrical releases across the world, has not lessened the Iranian government's condemnation of Moghadam & Sanaeeha's actions. After a long string of interrogations at the Evin Security Prosecutor's Office, they are now expected in court on March 1 on allegations of "propaganda against the regime", "production, distribution and duplication of a film with obscene content", "offending public decency and morality" and "screening the film without obtaining a screening/distribution license". The court sessions will be conducted under the presidency of Judge Iman Afshari, who was also recently involved in sentencing Mohammed Rasoulof to eight years imprisonment.

The ICFR calls on the Iranian government to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Maryam Moghadam & Behtash Sanaeeha, and restore their freedom to live, to move, and to make the films they need to make. We urge our colleagues across the globe — especially those currently attending the Berlinale and the European Film Market (EFM) — to amplify our call, to share this campaign in support our Iranian colleagues, and to sign and share this petition addressed to the Iranian authorities to drop all charges now.

International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk