Monday, February 10, 8:15 p.m. | When THE SEED OF THE SACRED FILM premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May, Mohammad Rasoulof's attendance at the screening was miraculous, as he had fled Iran to be there, after intense interrogation by Iranian authorities. An artist who has faced significant censorship, MANUSCRIPTS DON’T BURN was first presented at our 25th festival, when Barbara Scharres wrote, “Laboring under a 20-year ban from filmmaking, director Rasoulof takes a dangerous step with this fictional yet fact-based political thriller steeped in darkest absurdity, as devoutly religious government thugs persecute two writers in pursuit of the galleys of a damning book.”

Awards & Nominations

Winner - FIPRESCI Prize, Cannes Film Festival 
Nominee - Un Certain Regard Award, Cannes Film Festival
Winner - Political Film Award, Hamburg Film Festival

Festival of Films from Iran: For the 36th year of our Festival of Films from Iran, we’re taking the opportunity to look back at some of the highlights of Iranian cinema we’ve presented at the Film Center—during the festival and year round— in the last 36 years. Read more

The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu