Khanya Mkangisa

Romantic drama triggers government crackdown on Iranian filmmakers

A romantic drama about an elderly couple who share a night together to escape their loneliness has landed its Iranian directors with legal charges and pressure to stop its release internationally. The feel-good movie called "My Favourite Cake" has been lauded on the festival circuit and appeared in cinemas in more than a dozen countries at the end of 2024. With favourable reviews mounting and more international releases expected in coming weeks, Tehran-based directors Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha are facing rising intimidation from Iranian authorities. "They want us to stop the release of the film in different countries," Sanaeeha told AFP by videocall from the Iranian capital. "When a film goes to festival or starts a new release in a new country, they call us ... and then push us to stop the film, in France, in Italy, in Germany and everywhere," he added.