Neon has backed the last four Palme d’Or winners. It now appears as though they will be contending for a fifth one this year. It was announced today that Neon acquired the North American rights to “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” from director Mohammad Rasoulof who recently fled Iran after being sentenced to eight years in prison. The narrative behind this one is strong. It screens on Friday.
The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.