“The bigger the film becomes, the more successful it becomes, the more it will protect me and the cast and crew, both inside and outside Iran,” Rasoulof said.
“An even more important impact, I think, is that [the Oscar campaign] can shine a light and give hope to all filmmakers working under repressive circumstances around the globe.
“And the urban parts of the story allowed us to be on the streets without attracting too much attention.
This was quite fortunate for us to be able to shoot outdoors, and we could continue working in the crowded parts of Tehran.
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” is currently in theaters from Neon.

Mohammad Rasoulof Thinks the Oscar Campaign for ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ Offers Hope to Those ‘Working Under Repressive Circumstances’