text: Iranian authorities have banned an Iranian film portraying the hardships of a family in the sanctions-affected nation after being lauded at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
  According to state news agency IRNA, ‘Leila's Brothers’, directed by Saeed Roustaee, has been banned by the Cinema Organization of Iran (COI) until further notice, as said by Culture Minister Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaili.
  The COI stated that the movie violated the rules by entering an international film festival without authorization.
  Even though the movie missed out on the Cannes festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, it won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award.
  According to the COI, the director of the movie refused to "correct" it as the ministry had requested, which prevented it from being released in Iranian theatres.
  With his 2019 police thriller "Just 6.5," Roustaee has already won over critics overseas.
  Despite all the restrictions put in place by Iranian authorities, the nation has long had a robust film industry, with names like Jafar Panahi and Asghar Farhadi winning accolades all over the world.
  It is to be mentioned that Iran’s Zar Amir Ebrahimi bagged this year's Cannes award for best actress for 'Holy Spider'. In the movie, she plays the role of a journalist trying to solve the case of serial murders of women in the city of Mashhad.
  Cover Image Source: Instagram