(Image Source: If Awards)

BY JULIA CORDEROY

An Iranian actress who has been sentenced to one year in jail and 90 lashes by the Iranian Government is a story of life imitating art - after she starred in a movie about the limits imposed on artists in Iran. Fox News has more details...

“Marzieh Vafamehr was arrested in July after appearing in the film 'My Tehran For Sale.' It’s the story of a young actress in Iran, whose theater work is banned by the Government.”

The movie was directed by an Iranian-Australian director and made its debut at the Adelaide Film Festival in 2009. Since then it has toured internationally as part of the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival.

The movie was banned in Iran, but after copies were sold on the black market, Vafamehr was arrested. MSNBC has more plot points.

“In the Film, 'My Tehran For Sale,' Vafamehr stars as an actress whose theatre production is banned by authorities. She is forced to lead a secret life and eventually plots her escape from Iran.”

Charges against the actress include not having a permit to produce the movie which was shot on location in Tehran, and the absence of the hijab -- the traditional Muslim head covering. But the film’s director says that there are no grounds for these charges. BBC quotes her saying...

"All the documentation has been provided to the Iranian court to show that permits were in place for the production of the film.”

And In regard to the head covering, The Australian quotes the director...

"It was not necessary to have the conventional hijab because technically there's no hair [in the film Vafamehr has a shaved head]... It's a very harsh outcome for something that is not written in law.”

But why is Vafamehr the only one being punished? An Iranian film critic based in London tells The Guardian it’s a matter of access. Since Vafamehr is the only one in Iran, she takes all the punishment.

"They have no access to the film's producers in Australia, so they want to take revenge from its actress instead, she's taken as a ransom.”

The film was funded by the SA Film Corporation, who say they have no regrets. The CEO tells Yahoo! 7 News...

“Will it stop us making risky films in the future? No, I think it’s important.”

The Australian Government is urging Iran to protect the rights of its citizens. Miss Vafamehr’s lawyer is appealing the decision.