The Seed of the Sacred Fig wins Best Asian Film at the Septimius Awards 2025 - Amin Sadraei's Victory

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands — In a powerful moment for international cinema and freedom of expression, the Iranian political drama The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Dāne-ye anjīr-e ma’ābed), directed by the exiled Mohammad Rasoulof, was honored with the prestigious Best Asian Film award at the Septimius Awards 2025. The announcement was made on Thursday, September 4, 2025, during the gala ceremony held in the magnificent, art-deco surroundings of the Tuschinski Theater in Amsterdam. (فیلم «دانه انجیر مقدس» برنده جایزه بهترین فیلم آسیایی در جوایز سپتیموس ۲۰۲۵ شد - پیروزی امین صدرایی )

This triumph underscores the film’s profound impact on the global film landscape. Recognized widely since its courageous debut, the film’s victory in the highly competitive Best Asian Film category at the Septimius Awards further validates its urgency, artistic brilliance, and thematic power. The award highlights the cinema community's commitment to recognizing challenging, essential narratives that speak truth to power.

A Co-Producer Accepts the Prize

Due to the sensitive and complicated political circumstances surrounding the film and its director, Mohammad Rasoulof, the award was accepted on stage by one of the film’s co-producers, Amin Sadraei. Sadraei, who was instrumental in the logistical and creative efforts that brought the clandestine production to fruition, served as the film’s representative for the evening.

Accepting the accolade in the beautiful Dutch theater, Sadraei represented the collective bravery of the entire cast and crew—many of whom remain anonymous or in exile—who risked personal safety to realize the director’s vision. His presence symbolized the film’s transnational nature, having been secretly filmed in Iran and completed in Germany, showcasing a massive effort of international collaboration and dedication to independent filmmaking. The award was received not merely as a cinematic honor, but as a recognition of the struggle for artistic and social liberty.

The Seed of Disintegration

The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a tense, claustrophobic psychological thriller that operates as a powerful parable about the corrosive effects of authoritarianism on the domestic sphere. The story centers on Iman, a newly promoted investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran. His advancement, which brings with it an elevated status and a government-issued firearm, rapidly fractures the equilibrium of his family life with his wife, Najmeh, and his two teenage daughters, Rezvan and Sana.

As nationwide protests and political unrest escalate outside their apartment, the paranoia and suspicion inside the family home begin to mirror the societal tensions. When Iman’s gun mysteriously disappears, his growing fear and distrust turn inward, causing him to subject his wife and daughters to a regime of suspicion, surveillance, and escalating psychological control.

The film masterfully uses the disintegrating family unit as a microcosm for the wider social and political oppression within the country. Director Rasoulof transforms the family apartment into a metaphorical prison, meticulously charting the descent of the patriarch from an outwardly supportive husband and father into a figure of domestic tyranny, driven by the fear inherent in his new political role. The narrative powerfully links the structural violence of the state to the intimate violence within the home.

The film’s title itself serves as a chilling metaphor, referring to a species of fig that begins harmlessly on a host tree but eventually sends down roots that strangle and subsume the host, ultimately standing on its own. This symbol of slow, destructive takeover perfectly encapsulates the film’s searing commentary on the political regime.

A Global Voice for Asian Cinema

The Septimius Award for Best Asian Film is a significant platform for cinematic voices from a continent rich in diverse storytelling. The Seed of the Sacred Fig's victory highlights its essential contribution to global cinema, recognizing the film’s technical excellence, gripping narrative, and critical importance as a contemporary historical document.

This award in Amsterdam follows a series of high-profile international accolades the film has received, including a Special Award from the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. The continued recognition underscores the universal resonance of the film’s themes regarding justice, truth, and the unwavering courage of those who choose to resist oppression. Amin Sadraei's acceptance ensures that the film's powerful message continues to travel the world.

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