Germany Picks Iranian Film for 2025 International Oscar Race
Germany has picked The Seed of the Sacred Fig from Iranian dissident director Mohammad Rasoulof to represent the country at the 2025 Oscars in the best international feature category.
This is the first time an Iranian film has been put forward by Germany for the international Oscar race. Rasoulof qualified for the selection because the film is an Iranian-French-German co-production and because he is now a German resident, having fled Iran earlier this year to escape an eight-year prison sentence.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig, which won a special jury prize at Cannes, has been banned in Iran. Given Rasoulof’s outspoken attacks on the Tehran regime, the film would never have been submitted by the government for the Oscars.
Neon has North American rights for the film.
Both German and Iranian directors have a good record at the Academy Awards. Germany has won the best international feature trophy four times, most recently for Edward Berger’s All Quiet on the Western Front. Iran has two best international feature wins, both for director Asghar Farhadi, for A Separation in 2012 and in 2017 for The Salesman.
The deadline for submissions for the 96th Oscars is Nov. 14. The shortlist for best international feature contenders will be announced Dec. 17. Nominations will be announced Jan. 17, 2025. The 2025 Academy Awards will be held on March 2.
