Germany has selected Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof’s drama The Seed of the Sacred Fig as its submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
This decision was taken by an independent jury of experts appointed by German Films, who looked at 13 films submitted for consideration.
Rasoulof has been living in Germany ever since his dramatic flight from his nativeIran in May, in the face of fresh threats of a flogging and imprisonment from the country’s authoritarian Islamic Republic regime.
“It is an outstanding work by one of the great directors of world cinema and someone who has found refuge in Germany from state despotism in Iran,” the committee said in a statement explaining its choice. “We are very happy to know that Rasoulof is safe in our country. And we are delighted that he will be representing Germany at the Oscars in 2025.”
