Shahrzad News: Actors Ashkan Koshanzad and Negar Sheghahi, both of whom received awards at the Cannes Film Festival for their roles in “No one Knows About Persian Cats,” have sought political asylum in the United Kingdom on the grounds that it would be unsafe for them to return to Iran. Two other members of their music group have done the same.

Their decision followed events surrounding another member of the group, Ali Ghomashchi, who was arrested when he returned to Iran last month after hearing that his sister had been detained during the recent post-election protests.

The film, directed by Bahman Ghobadi, won the Special Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. It investigates the world of underground western-style music bands in Iran, whose members are constantly threatened with imprisonment by the state.