Iranian actress Laleh Marzban has faced significant criticism from Iranian authorities and state-affiliated media following her acceptance speech at the Venice Film Festival, where she won the best actress award in the Orizzonti section for emerging talent. Marzban was recognized for her performance in Mohsen Gharaei’s film Falling House, which explores the lives of three generations of women confined within their home by the family patriarch.
In her speech, delivered in Farsi, Marzban dedicated her award to "the women of my country who have paid the highest price for even the smallest measure of freedom." She acknowledged the challenging times facing Iranians but urged them not to lose hope. Her remarks highlighted the ongoing struggles of women in Iran, drawing attention to their plight amid the country's socio-political landscape.
The speech prompted a swift response from the supreme council of the cultural revolution, a government body appointed by Iran’s supreme leader. The council condemned Marzban’s comments as presenting "a one-sided narrative of Iran’s proud society," asserting that portraying Iranian women in the light preferred by Western discourse contradicted the intended social mission of art. This statement followed similar criticisms from state-backed media outlets, some calling for disciplinary action against Marzban.
Among the prominent critics was Zahra Chekhmaghi, a journalist and presenter affiliated with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), who labeled Marzban as "two-faced," "self-interested," and "hypocritical." Another IRIB-associated figure, actor Zhila Sadeghi, reproached Marzban for not using her platform to mention the children reportedly killed in a US missile strike on a school in Minab in late February. A Quran expert appearing on state television accused the actress of being "deceived by the enemy" and urged authorities to prevent her from working in Iran.
The backlash against Marzban’s speech is part of a broader pattern of tension surrounding cultural expressions related to ongoing conflicts involving Iran and its allies. A recent example at the Venice festival includes the documentary NAZA, which examines the killing of civilians in Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The film’s directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, have been targeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who indicated plans to introduce legislation allowing Israel to strip the citizenship of individuals deemed to be defaming the IDF.
These developments illustrate the complex interplay between art, politics, and state responses in the region, highlighting how cultural events can become flashpoints for broader ideological disputes.