An association of independent Iranian filmmakers has called on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to overhaul how it accepts films from countries under authoritarian rule, warning that the current system legitimizes state-controlled cinema bodies.
In a letter to the Academy this week, the Iranian Independent Filmmakers Association (IIFMA) said the Farabi Cinema Foundation, which oversees Oscar submissions from Iran, enforces censorship and sidelines independent voices at home and abroad.
The group proposed an international committee that could select Iranian films free of government influence, citing the cultural impact of the Woman, Life, Freedom protest movement.
The appeal came a day after Iran announced Ali Zarnegar’s Cause of Death: Unknown as its entry for the 98th Academy Awards.
The selection drew mixed reactions inside Iran, with the hardline daily Javan urging officials to choose a film that reflected “Islamic-Iranian values,” while veteran filmmaker Homayoun Asadian accused state authorities of trying to dictate the choice.
IIFMA argued that acclaimed works such as Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning It Was Just an Accident -- which France has submitted this year -- demonstrate the global recognition of Iranian filmmakers when free of state oversight.
Panahi has long been barred from representing Iran, and supporters say his case highlights how government involvement excludes major artists.
Iran has a history of success at the Oscars, with Asghar Farhadi winning best international feature for A Separation (2012) and The Salesman (2017).
