The German-Iranian-French co-production THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG by Mohammad Rasoulof has won this year’s Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films, which is being presented for the fifth time by European Film Promotion (EFP) and Arab Cinema Center (ACC). The drama is also the German Entry for the 97th Oscars® in the “Best International Feature Film“ category.
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG by Mohammad Rasoulof was selected from a total of 22 European films, including nine Oscar submissions, and made it to the shortlist of the final three. 89 of the most prominent and influential Arab film critics from 15 Arab-speaking countries have now announced the winning film during the El Gouna Film Festival (October 24 – November 1, 2024).
The Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, who could not attend the festival in person, sent greetings to El Gouna. In his video message, he expressed his great regret not being able to be on site in person and thanked the jury and the festival for the prestigious award. The producer of the film, Mani Tilgner (Run Way Pictures), gratefully received the trophy on the director’s behalf at the award ceremony:
“I am deeply honored to accept this wonderful award here in El Gouna on behalf of Mohammad Rasoulof and the entire team. My heartfelt thanks go to European Film Promotion, the Arab Cinema Center and the El Gouna Film Festival, but above all to the jury of the Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films who selected our’s from among all the films. This recognition assures us that we not only succeeded in producing a good film under difficult conditions but also in telling a story that moves people around the world-whether in the USA, Europe, or the Arab countries.”
The drama THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG revolves around Iman, an investigating judge in Tehran who serves his regime loyally. Public demonstrations on the streets of the Iranian city keep his daughters busy. These different dynamics upset the family. Anger and paranoia on both sides soon ensure that all boundaries are crossed …
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG had its world premiere in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival where it received the Competition’s Special Jury Prize, the FIPRESCI Prize, the European Art House Cinemas Award (AFCAE), the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Prix François Chalais for Best Film. The film went on to win the Audience Award in Sydney and was then screened at other film festivals such as Locarno, Telluride, Toronto, San Sebastian as well as important autumn festivals in the USA. THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG has also been shortlisted for the European Film Award.
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG was produced by Run Way Pictures in co-production with Parallel45, ARTE France Cinéma and with the participation of ARTE France and in co-operation with Films Boutique. The film was supported by L’ Aide Aux Cinémas Du Monde, Centre National Du Cinéma Et De L’ image Animée, Institut Français and MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein.
The German distributor Alamode will release the film in German cinemas on December 26, 2024. Films Boutique is handling international sales. In North America, NEON will release the film nationwide in US cinemas on November 27, 2024.
The Arab Critics’ Awards for European Films was launched in 2019 by EFP and ACC. It is a spin-off from the ACC’s now well-established Critics‘ Awards to boost film diversity in the region and raise the interest of sales companies and the industry for outstanding European films. This initiative also aims to cast a spotlight on the distinguished film critics from 15 Arab-speaking countries and their important role in opening up new perspectives and bridging cultural idiosyncrasies. The previous four winners were God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya by Teona Strugar Mitevska (2019), Undine by Christian Petzold (2020), 107 MOTHERS by Péter Kerekes (2021), EO by Jerzy Skolimowski (2022) and FALLEN LEAVES by Ari Kaurismäki (2023).
