The Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the verdict against the renowned filmmaker and screenwriter Saeed Roustayi and producer Javad Nowruzbeigi.

Babak Paknia, their legal representative, confirmed that Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the original verdict related to their work on the movie “Leila’s Brothers,” which was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival.

Initially, the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced both individuals to six months in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime,” accompanied by additional penalties. Approximately nine days of this prison term will be served, while the remaining sentence has been suspended for a five-year period.

In addition to the prison sentence, Roustayi and Nowruzbeigi have faced various career-limiting restrictions as filmmakers, including limitations on their interactions with fellow professionals in the industry. Furthermore, they have been directed to complete a 24-hour filmmaking course at IRIB University in Qom.

This verdict has deemed the creation of the film “Leila’s Brothers” as an act of spreading propaganda against the regime, in alignment with anti-regime media.

The 2022 drama film “Leila’s Brothers” garnered significant attention, earning a place in the competition for the Palme d’Or at the prestigious 2022 Cannes Film Festival and notably winning the International Federation of Film Critics prize.