TEHRAN -- An official of the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has warned Iranian cineastes about unauthorized cooperation in foreign productions.

“Iranian cineastes must obtain the approval of the Culture Ministry before their cooperation in foreign productions, otherwise it will have a negative impact on the future of their career,” Culture Ministry’s Supervision and Evaluation Office (SEO) director Alireza Sajjadpur told the Persian service of the Fars News Agency on Saturday.
The remark followed reports by Iranian news agencies that Iranian expatriate starlet Golshifteh Farahani announced plans to collaborate with Paris-based Iranian graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi for “Chicken with Plums”. The movie will be a follow up to her animated film “Persepolis”, which caused outrage among Iranian officials.
Farahani left Iran in 2008 following her appearance in Ridley Scott’s spy thriller “Body of Lies” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.
Although Iranian cultural officials have previously given a green light to Farahani to return home, she continues to live in Paris.
“Chicken with Plums” is gearing up for a July shooting start at the Babelsberg Studios in Berlin.
It is based on another of Satrapi’s graphic novels about her great-uncle Nasser-Ali Khan, whose favorite meal was his mother’s recipe for chicken with plums.
The Culture Ministry has recently imposed new restrictions on Iranian cineastes abroad.
Last week, Sajjadpur said Iranian filmmakers must obtain a license for foreign premieres of their films from the Culture Ministry.
No film can be produced or premiere in Iran if the Culture Ministry refuses to grant the necessary licenses.