The Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist has announced the jury for its international competition, with Iranian independent filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer Mohammad Rasoulof set to head the panel. Rasoulof is known for his critically acclaimed films like "The Seeds of Sacred Fig," "There Is No Evil," and "A Man of Integrity." Alongside other international jury members, he will attend the festival in Kyiv.
In May 2024, Rasoulof fled Iran, where he had been sentenced to eight years in prison, flogging, and confiscation of property for "films that conspired to commit a crime against Iran's national security." In an interview with The Guardian, Rasoulof shared that he crossed the Iranian border on foot, discarding all his electronic devices beforehand to avoid tracking.
Also in May 2024, Rasoulof won several awards at the Cannes Film Festival for his film "The Seeds of Sacred Fig," including a Special Jury Prize, an Ecumenical Jury Prize, and a FIPRESCI award.
The film's story unfolds during student protests in Tehran, following Iman, a judge of the Revolutionary Court who delivers death sentences. His paranoia grows when his home-stored gun mysteriously disappears, and he begins to suspect his wife and daughters of conspiring against him.
The idea for the film originated in 2022 while Rasoulof was imprisoned with fellow director Jafar Panahi for signing a petition calling on Iran's security forces to refrain from using violence during public protests. After his release in February 2023, Rasoulof began secretly working on "The Seeds of Sacred Fig," with a small crew to avoid suspicion.
Rasoulof’s determination to complete the film despite health issues and intense government surveillance demonstrates his commitment to cinema as a form of resistance. He shared with The New York Times,
"Our lives resemble those of gangsters, except we are movie-making gangsters."
Rasoulof’s film will be screened in the "Festival of Festivals" section at Molodist.
Other Members of the International Jury
- Albert Wiederspiel – Director of FILMFEST HAMBURG (2003–2023), film expert, and manager.
- Marija Kavtaradze – Lithuanian director, winner of the Sundance Directing Award for "Slow," and a participant in the 2023 Molodist.
- Anastasia Karpenko – Ukrainian actress, known for her lead role in "How Is Katia?" which won the main prize at Molodist's 2023 national feature competition.
- Maksym Asadchiy – Ukrainian film producer, involved in projects like "Dovbush," "Foster and Max," and "Brothers. The Final Confession."
The Molodist International Competition features debut films from around the world. The winner will receive the "Scythian Deer" statuette and a $5,000 prize from the festival’s main sponsor, the state lottery operator M.S.L.
Molodist 2024 will take place from October 26 to November 3, with the main venue being the Zhovten Cinema, and the opening and award ceremonies at the Cinema House.
