It is unclear whether Rasoulof will make it to South Korea in person, as the celebrated director fled his native Iran earlier this year. Dissident Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof has been named president of the New Currents jury at the upcoming Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The New Currents strand of includes first or second films by emerging Asian filmmakers and the jurors will select two winning features, which will each receive a prize of $30,000.
It is unclear whether Rasoulof will make it to South Korea in person, as the celebrated director . After shooting his latest feature in secret, Rasoulof fled Iran after being sentenced to eight years in prison and flogging for national security crimes. The Iranian court found Rasoulof’s films and documentaries to be “examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the security of the country.
” The sentencing came days before the start of the – where his new film premiered in Competition and , as well as the Fipresci award. The filmmaker managed to make it to the Croisette for the premiere, where The Grand Theatre Lumière gave him a moving and lengthy 15 minute plus standing ovation - one which would have carried on had Rasoulof not taken the microphone to thank all those who made the film possible, including the ones who could not make it. In our Cannes review of , we said: “We’re fortunate to have filmmakers who dare to challenge oppression, as well as film festivals that prog.