Iranian Filmmakers Sentenced to Suspended Jail Terms Over Acclaimed Film

Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha face 14-month suspended sentences and fines for their film 'My Favourite Cake,' which defied Iranian censorship laws and gained international recognition.

• The Iranian Revolutionary Court sentenced directors Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha to 14-month suspended jail terms and imposed fines for charges including 'spreading lies' and producing 'vulgar content.'
• 'My Favourite Cake,' which premiered at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival, features depictions of a woman without a headscarf, dancing, and drinking wine, violating Iran's strict censorship laws.
• The filmmakers have faced ongoing repression, including travel bans, confiscation of equipment, and death threats, preventing them from attending international screenings of their film.
• The legal action against the directors is part of a broader crackdown on dissenting artistic expression in Iran, especially following the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests.
• International film organizations and thousands of cinema professionals have condemned the persecution, calling for greater global attention to the plight of Iranian artists.

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