Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine As Light” continues to make waves on the global stage, adding another feather to its cap after receiving recent Golden Globe nominations. The film has now secured a coveted spot on the longlist for three prestigious BAFTA awards.

In his Instagram post, Obama wrote, “Here are a few movies I’d recommend checking out this year,” accompanied by a photo creative listing his top picks. The list includes titles such as “Conclave”, “The Promised Land”, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”, “Didi”, and “A Complete Unknown” alongside Kapadia’s critically acclaimed work.

In an interview with AFP, Rasoulof emphasised the irony of the situation. "It is unimaginable that the Islamic Republic could have submitted a film like this for the Academy Awards," he remarked, adding that under Iran's strict regime, such a film would never have been made. Instead, “Sacred Fig”, a suspenseful family drama set against Iran's repressive political climate, is Germany's official Oscar submission.

Rasoulof's film "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" tells the story of a court investigator whose family life is torn apart during Iran's women-led protests.

Iranian rebel director Mohammad Rasoulof made a great escape from his homeland days before his movie, “The Seed of the Scared Fig”, was to play at the prestigious competition slot in the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The film could remind you of an ever-enduring classic, “The Sound of Music” with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

Director Mohammad Rasoulof announced he had fled his home country just days after being sentenced to eight years in prison on security offenses.

Producers of the film faced harassment from state police, as previously disclosed by Paknia on X, and actors were interrogated and barred from leaving the country.