The documentary filmmakers behind Iran’s Oscar-nominated Cutting Through Rocks are opening up about the importance of “standing by” the people of Iran amid the nation’s protests and U.S./Israeli attack, and the bittersweet celebration of their historic moment as protagonist Sara Shahverdi was barred from attending the fete due to the travel ban.
“It’s a big responsibility for us because we are representing the ordinary people of Iran. We are not politicians, we are storytellers,” co-director Mohammadreza Eyni told Deadline.
Meanwhile, co-helmer Sara Khaki added, “We are here to stand by the rights of our people because we are proud of their knowledge and their wisdom and their tenacity and their perseverance — as we see in Cutting Through Rocks in our lead character, who, by the way, was not able to join us for the Oscars because of the travel ban and the recent events in Iran.”
In December 2025, the White House issued a proclamation fully restricting and limiting the entry of citizens of 12 countries, including Iran. The ban has also impacted nationals from other countries, as Palestinian actor Motaz Malhees, who stars in the Best International Feature Film-nominated Tunisian entry The Voice of Hind Rajab, was also unable to attend.
Iranian authorities imposed an internet blackout early this year as a means of suppressing the ongoing nationwide demonstrations against the government amid a worsening economic crisis. The shutdown has been condemned as a violation of human rights.
“Because of the internet shutdown we can’t share with her any photos, any videos — and also with our people in Iran,” Eyni continued. “We wanted to celebrate this moment with them because this is the first Iranian documentary feature to be nominated, an Iranian story from Iran and we spent eight years making this film, and we lost the chance of celebrating with our people. And I’m sure so many of Iranians are behind the mission of the film that is about change; it’s about fighting for equalities, it’s about justice.”
Khaki added that their “hearts are with the people of Iran right now and we are standing by them and representing them today.”
Cutting Through Rocks, which premiered last year at Sundance, follows Shahverdi’s historic election as the first councilwoman of her village as she sets about challenging patriarchal traditions by teaching girls to ride motorcycles and stop child marriages.