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{{Short description|Iranian filmmaker (born 1960)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Jafar Panahi
| image              = Jafar Panahi at 2025 Cannes Film Festival Photocall.jpg
| caption            = Panahi at the [[2025 Cannes Film Festival]]
| native_name        = {{nobold|جعفر پناهی}}
| native_name_lang   = fa
| birthname          = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1960|7|11}}
| birth_place        = [[Mianeh, East Azerbaijan]], [[Pahlavi Iran|Iran]]
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Film director
* screenwriter
* producer
* editor}}
| yearsactive        = 1988–present
| known_for          = ''[[The White Balloon]]''<br>''[[The Circle (2000 film)|The Circle]]'' <br> ''[[This Is Not a Film]]'' <br>''[[Taxi (2015 film)|Taxi]]''<br>''[[It Was Just an Accident]]''
| style              = [[Neorealism (international relations)]]
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = [[Iran Broadcasting College|Iran Broadcasting College of Cinema and TV]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|Tahere Saeedi|1983}}
| children           = 2, including [[Panah Panahi|Panah]]
| awards             = [[Golden Leopard]] (1997)<br>[[Golden Lion]] (2000)<br>[[Sakharov Prize]] (2012)<br>[[Golden Bear]] (2015)<br>[[Palme d'Or]] (2025)
| module             = {{Infobox military person| embed = yes
| allegiance    = [[Iran]]
| branch        = [[Islamic Republic of Iran Army|Army]]
| serviceyears  = 1980–1982
| battles       = {{Unbulleted list|[[1979 Kurdish rebellion in Iran|Kurdish rebellion]]{{POW}}|[[Iran–Iraq War]]}}
}}
}}
'''Jafar Panâhi''' ({{langx|fa|جعفر پناهی|rtl=yes}}, {{IPA|fa|d͡ʒæˈfæɾ pænɒːˈhiː|}}) (born 11 July 1960) is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, and editor. He is known internationally for his contributions to [[Cinema of Iran|Iranian cinema]] and has received numerous awards at major film festivals, including the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[2025 Cannes Film Festival]] for ''[[It Was Just an Accident]]'', the [[Golden Bear]] at the [[Berlin International Film Festival]] for ''[[Taxi (2015 film)|Taxi]]'' (2015), and the [[Golden Lion]] at the [[Venice Film Festival]] for ''[[The Circle (2000 film)|The Circle]]'' (2000). These accolades make him the fourth filmmaker — after [[Henri-Georges Clouzot]], [[Michelangelo Antonioni]] and [[Robert Altman]] — to win the top prizes at the Big Three film festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=24 May 2025 |title=Jafar Panahi Wins Cannes Palme d'Or for 'It Was Just an Accident' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2025-cannes-film-festival-palme-dor-winners-1236228268/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Panahi began his career making short films and working as an assistant to [[Abbas Kiarostami]]. His debut feature, ''[[The White Balloon]]'' (1995), won the [[Caméra d'Or]] at the [[1995 Cannes Film Festival]], marking the first major award for an Iranian film at that event. He has since been associated with the [[Iranian New Wave]] and often explores themes of social injustice and restrictions, political oppression, and the experiences of marginalized individuals in Iran.

His films have frequently been banned in Iran, and his career has been marked by conflict with Iranian authorities. In 2010, he was arrested and later sentenced to six years in prison and a 20-year ban on filmmaking and travel.<ref name="en.irangreenvoice.com">{{cite news |date=20 December 2010 |title=Filmmaker Jafar Panahi sentenced to six years in prison |url=http://en.irangreenvoice.com/article/2010/dec/20/2581 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224090016/http://en.irangreenvoice.com/article/2010/dec/20/2581 |archive-date=24 December 2010 |publisher=The Green Voice of Freedom (part of [[The Green Path of Hope]] association)}}</ref> Despite these restrictions, he continued to produce films, including ''[[This Is Not a Film]]'' (2011), which was smuggled out of Iran for screening at Cannes.

Other notable works include ''[[The Mirror (1997 film)|The Mirror]]'' (1997), ''[[Offside (2006 Iranian film)|Offside]]'' (2006), ''[[Closed Curtain]]'' (2013), ''[[3 Faces]]'' (2018) and ''[[No Bears]]'' (2022).

==  Early life and education ==
Jafar Panahi was born in [[Mianeh, East Azerbaijan|Mianeh]], Iran, to an [[Iranian Azerbaijanis|Iranian Azerbaijani]] family,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oUOWDwAAQBAJ&dq=jafar+panahi+azerbaijani&pg=PT52 | title=Jafar Panahi: Interviews | isbn=9781496823212 | last1=Todd | first1=Drew | year= 2019 | publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi }}</ref> which he has described as working-class. He grew up with four sisters and two brothers.<ref name="http://www.offscreen.com">{{cite web|last=Rist|first=Peter|date=November 2009|title=In Real Time: An Interview with Jafar Panahi|url=http://www.offscreen.com/index.php/pages/essays/interview_panahi/|access-date=22 May 2012|website=Offscreen}}</ref> His father worked as a house painter. His family spoke [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]] at home, but [[Persian language|Persian]] with other Iranians.<ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386">Stone, Judy. ''Eye on the World: Conversations with International Filmmakers''. Silman-James Press, Los Angeles, 1997, {{ISBN|1-879505-36-3}}, p. 386.</ref> When he was ten years old he used an [[8 mm film]] camera. He also acted in one film and assisted Kanoon's library director in running a program that taught children how to operate a film camera.<ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386" />

Starting at age 12, Panahi worked after school in order to afford to go and see films. His impoverished childhood helped form the humanistic worldview of his films.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.rferl.org/content/jafar_panahi_iran_filmmaker_/2256215.html|title=Son of Imprisoned Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Says His Father Still Sees Beauty|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=22 December 2010 |publisher=rferl.org|access-date=22 May 2012 |last1=Deasy |first1=Kristin }}</ref>

At age 20 Panahi was conscripted into the [[Iranian army]] and served in the [[Iran–Iraq War]], working as an army [[cinematographer]] from 1980 to 1982.<ref name="Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty">{{cite web|last=Deasy|first=Kristin|date=22 December 2010|title=Son of Imprisoned Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Says His Father Still Sees Beauty |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/jafar_panahi_iran_filmmaker_/2256215.html|access-date=26 June 2012|website=[[Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty]]}}</ref> In 1981 he was captured by [[Kurdish people|Kurdish]] rebels and held for 76 days.<ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386"/> 

From his war experiences he made a documentary that was eventually shown on TV. After completing his military service, Panahi enrolled at the [[Iran Broadcasting College|College of Cinema and TV]] in [[Tehran]], where he studied filmmaking and especially appreciated the works of [[Alfred Hitchcock]], [[Howard Hawks]], [[Luis Buñuel]], and [[Jean-Luc Godard]].<ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386"/> There he first met and befriended filmmaker [[Parviz Shahbazi]] and cinematographer Farzad Jodat, who shot all of Panahi's early work. During college he interned at the [[Bandar Abbas]] Center on the Persian Gulf Coast, where he made his first short documentary films.<ref name="http://www.menggang.com">{{cite web|last=Mapes|first=Marty|title=Jafar Panahi: An Independent Filmmaker|url=http://www.menggang.com/movie/iran/panahi/e-panahi-a.html|access-date=14 June 2012|website=1970及其前因后果 / Meng Gang}}</ref> He also began working as an assistant director on his professor's films before graduating in 1988.<ref name="Remarks by JAFAR PANAHI">{{cite web|title=Remarks by Jafar Panahi |url=http://www.filmscouts.com/scripts/interview.cfm?File=2768|access-date=22 May 2012|website=Film Scouts}}</ref><ref name="Articles">{{cite web|title=Who's Who in Iranian Film Industry|url=http://www.massoudmehrabi.com/articles.asp?id=336899580|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921015828/http://www.massoudmehrabi.com/articles.asp?id=336899580|archive-date=21 September 2011|access-date=16 June 2011|website=[[Massoud Mehrabi]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Teo|first=Stephen|date=July 2001|title=The Case of Jafar Panahi|url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2001/jafar-panahi/panahi_interview/|access-date=16 February 2015|website=[[Senses of Cinema]]}}</ref>

==Early career ==
Panahi made several short documentary films for Iranian television through the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting]]'s [[Channel 2 (Iran)|Channel 2]]. His first short film, ''The Wounded Heads'' (''Yarali Bashlar''),{{when|date=March 2025}} was a documentary about the illegal mourning tradition of [[Tatbir|head slashing]] in the [[Azerbaijan (Iran)|Azerbaijan region]] of northern Iran. The film documents a mourning ceremony for the third Shi'ite Imam, Imam Hossein, in which people hit their heads with knives until they bled. Panahi had to shoot in secret and the film was banned for several years. In 1988 Panahi filmed ''The Second Look'' (''Negah-e Dovvom''), a behind-the-scenes documentary short on the making of Kambuzia Partovi's film ''Golnar''. It focuses on the puppet maker for Partovi's film and his relationship with his puppets.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mehrabi|first=Massoud|title=Reporting To History: An interview with Jafar Panahi on the occasion of the screening of his latest movie, Offside |url=http://www.massoudmehrabi.com/articles.asp?id=-1914865286|access-date=14 October 2020|website=[[Massoud Mehrabi]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.bozar.be/file/1594/download|title=13.10–28.11.2016 Programme Jafar Panahi|publisher=[[Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels|BOZAR]]|year=2016|pages=17–18, 23|access-date=14 October 2020|archive-date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014131052/https://www.bozar.be/file/1594/download|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was not released until 1993.<ref name="http://www.menggang.com" /> In 1990 he worked as an assistant director on Partovi's film ''[[The Fish (1991 film)|The Fish]]'' (1991).{{cn|date=March 2025}} 

In 1992 Panahi made his first narrative short film, ''The Friend'' (''Doust''), an homage to Kiarostami's first short film, ''[[The Bread and Alley]]''.<ref>Dönmez-Colin. pp. 96.</ref> That same year Panahi made his second narrative short, ''The Final Exam'' (''Akharin Emtehan''). Both films starred non-professional actors Ali Azizollahi and Mehdi Shahabi and won awards for Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing at Iran's National TV Festival that year.<ref name="Articles"/> Inspired by a story of a young Luis Buñuel once contacting successful film director [[Jean Epstein]] to ask for a job in filmmaking, Panahi left a message on Kiarostami's answering machine saying that he loved his films and asking for a job on his next film. Kiarostami hired Panahi as his assistant director for the film ''[[Through the Olive Trees]]''.<ref name="http://www.offscreen.com"/><ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386"/>

== 1995–2009: Career as a film director ==
=== ''The White Balloon'' (1995) ===

In 1995 Panahi made his feature film debut, ''[[The White Balloon]]'' (''Badkonak-e sefid''), produced by IRIB- Channel 2, Ferdos Films and the Farabi Cinema Foundation.<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 226">Dönmez-Colin. p. 226.</ref> Initially titled ''Happy New Year'', Panahi developed the original story with [[Parviz Shahbazi]] and attempted to get funding from IRIB's [[Channel 1 (Iran)|Channel 1]] with the expectation that it would be a short film, but his proposal was rejected.<ref name="Articles"/> He then showed his original [[film treatment|treatment]] for the film to Kiarostami during the shooting of ''Through the Olive Trees''. Kiarostami encouraged Panahi to make the idea into a feature and agreed to write the script. During their car rides to set while shooting, Kiarostami would dictate the film's script while Panahi taped the conversation and typed the script.<ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386"/> Kiarostami also helped Panahi secure funding from IRIB's Channel 2.<ref name="http://www.offscreen.com"/> While casting the film, Panahi traveled throughout Iran in order to include all of the diverse ethnicities of his country as characters in the film. He found lead actress [[Aida Mohammadkhani]] at the first school that he visited and immediately cast her as Razieh, but auditioned 2,600 young boys for the role of Razieh's brother Ali before settling on Mohsen Kalifi.<ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386-387">Stone, Judy. ''Eye on the World: Conversations with International Filmmakers''. Silman-James Press, Los Angeles, 1997, {{ISBN|1-879505-36-3}}, pp. 386–387.</ref> He cast non-professionals in most of the supporting roles, including a real fish seller he found in the Rasht market and a college student to portray the young soldier. He also cast professional actress [[Anna Borkowska (actress)|Anna Borkowska]] as an Armenian woman.<ref name="Articles"/>

In the film Razieh, a strong-willed little girl in Tehran, wants to buy a lucky goldfish for the upcoming [[Nowruz|Iranian New Year]] celebration, but struggles to get and hold on to the 500-toman banknote needed to purchase the fish. Panahi worked closely with Mohammadkhani, gaining her trust and acting out each scene for her to mimic while still adding her own personality to the performance. Panahi was most concerned about Mohammadkhani being able to cry on cue, so he would have her stare at him off camera while he started to cry, causing her to cry.<ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386-387"/> Filming began in early April 1994 in [[Kashan]], Iran and continued until early June.<ref name="Articles"/> Panahi has stated that during the making of his feature debut he "wanted to prove to myself that I can do the job, that I can finish a feature film successfully and get good acting out of my players."<ref name="http://www.offscreen.com"/> He also stated that "In a world where films are made with millions of dollars, we made a film about a little girl who wants to buy a fish for less than a dollar – this is what we're trying to show."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2001/15/panahi_interview/|title=The Case of Jafar Panahi – An Interview with the Iranian Director of The Circle|date=19 December 2011 |publisher=sensesofcinema.com|access-date=16 February 2015}}</ref> In Iran, films depicting children are the most likely to avoid censorship or political controversy, and ''The White Balloon'' was screened exclusively in theatres that specialized in children's films. Because of this the film had low attendance on its initial run in Iranian theatres, with only 130,000 tickets sold.

It went on to win four prizes in Iran<ref name="Stone, Judy 1997, pp. 386-387"/> at the [[Isfahan Film Festival for Children and Young Adults]] and at the [[Fajr International Film Festival]]. For several years after its release, Kanoon's Channel 2 would broadcast the film every year on New Year's Day.<ref name="Articles"/> Outside of Iran ''The White Balloon'' received excellent reviews<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/white_balloon/|title=Rotten Tomatoes page|publisher=rottentomatoes.com|access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref> and was shown at the [[1995 Cannes Film Festival]], where it won the [[Camera d'Or]]. It also won the Golden Award of the Governor of Tokyo for Best Film and the Bronze Dragon for Best Film of Young Cinema at the 1995 [[Tokyo International Film Festival]], the International Jury Award at the 1995 [[São Paulo International Film Festival]]<ref>Stone, Judy. ''Eye on the World: Conversations with International Filmmakers''. Silman-James Press, Los Angeles, 1997, {{ISBN|1-879505-36-3}}, p. 387.</ref> and the Best Film Award at the 1996 [[Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival]].<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 226"/> It was Iran's official [[List of submissions to the 68th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film|submission for Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[68th Academy Awards]]; however, the Iranian government asked the Academy to withdraw the film after [[Iran–United States relations#1993–2001: Clinton administration|Iran's relations with the US]] began to deteriorate. The Academy refused to withdraw the film, which was not nominated, and Panahi was forbidden by the Iranian government to travel to the [[Sundance Film Festival]] or to participate in phone interviews with US reporters to promote the film.<ref>Stone, Judy. ''Eye on the World: Conversations with International Filmmakers''. Silman-James Press, Los Angeles, 1997, {{ISBN|1-879505-36-3}}, pp. 385–386.</ref>

=== ''The Mirror'' (1997) ===

Panahi's second feature film was ''[[The Mirror (1997 film)|The Mirror]]'', produced by Rooz Films.<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 224">Dönmez-Colin. pp. 224.</ref> Initially Panahi was going to direct Kiarostami's script for ''[[Willow and Wind]]'', but he decided to pursue his own work instead.<ref name="Articles"/> Panahi was inspired to make the film when while attending the 1996 [[Pusan International Film Festival]] in [[South Korea]] he noticed a young girl sitting alone on a park bench staring blankly into space, and realized that he had seen this same thing countless times in Iran and never paid attention to it. He has stated that he "choose a precocious child and placed her in a situation where she is left to her own devices. Everyone she meets on her journey is wearing a mask or playing a role. I wanted to throw these masks away."<ref>Dönmez-Colin. p. 94.</ref> The film stars Mina Mohammadkhani, the sister of Aida Mohammadkhani. In the film Mohammadkhani could be said to play two characters: the role of a little girl named Baharan and then herself as the film shifts into a documentary mode. Panahi reported casting her after having detected " a feeling of emptiness within her, and a determination to prove herself to the world."<ref name="offscreen.com">{{cite web |url= http://www.offscreen.com/index.php/pages/essays/interview_panahi/ |title= In Real Time: An Interview with Jafar Panahi |publisher= Offscreen.com |date= 30 November 2009 |access-date= 25 June 2012}}</ref> It received the Golden Leopard Award at the [[Locarno International Film Festival|Locarno Film Festival]], the Special Jury Award and Best Director Award at the 1998 [[Singapore International Film Festival]], the Golden Tulip Award at the 1998 [[Istanbul Film Festival]], the [[FIPRESCI Prize]] and the Eisenstein Magical Crystal and Cash Award at the 1998 [[Riga International Film Festival]], and Buñuel's Golden Era Award at the [[Royal Archive Film Festival]] in Belgium.<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 224"/>

=== ''The Circle'' (2000) ===

In 2000 Panahi made ''[[The Circle (2000 film)|The Circle]]'', produced by Jafar Panahi Film Productions and Mikado-Lumiere&Co.<ref>Dönmez-Colin. pp. 231.</ref> Although Panahi claimed that he was not a political filmmaker, his third feature was a major departure from his first two works about children and is critical of the treatment of women under Iran's [[Islamist]] regime.<ref>Dönmez-Colin. pp. 90–91.</ref> Panahi has stated that "I started my career making children's films, and while doing that I had no problems with censors. As soon as I started making feature films, it all started and I had problems,"<ref name="My interview with Jafar Panahi">{{cite web |url= http://dougsaunders.tumblr.com/post/624553436/jafar-panahi-iranian-director-interview |title= My interview with Jafar Panahi |publisher= dougsaunders.tumblr.com |date= 23 May 2010 |access-date= 25 June 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151109044032/http://dougsaunders.tumblr.com/post/624553436/jafar-panahi-iranian-director-interview |archive-date= 9 November 2015 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> but that "in my first films, I worked with children and young people, but I began to think of the limitations facing these girls once they grow up. In order to visualize these limitations and to have this constraint better projected visually, I went to a social class, which has more limitations to areas that are more underprivileged, so that this idea could come out ever stronger."<ref>Dönmez-Colin. p. 93.</ref> He had to wait an entire year to get an official shooting permit.<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 91">Dönmez-Colin. p. 91.</ref>

The film was shot in 35 days over a 53-day period. As usual, Panahi used non-professional actors, with the exceptions of [[Fatemeh Naghavi]] and [[Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy]]. He saw the lead actress, Nargess Mamizadeh, in a park one day and immediately offered her the role. The film opens with one long, handheld shot that lasts over three minutes and took 13 attempts to achieve.<ref>''The Circle'' DVD Special Features, Jafar Panahi interview. Fox Lorber Films. 2001.</ref> Panahi adopted a different camera style to depict each of the four main protagonists' lives. For the first, an idealistic woman he used a handheld camera. For the second woman, the camera is mounted on a constantly moving dolly. The third woman's story is told at night in darker outside, and the camera is static with pans and tight close-ups. For the last, least optimistic woman both the camera and the woman are completely immobile and very little sound is used.<ref name="offscreen.com"/> Panahi submitted the film to the [[57th Venice International Film Festival|Venice Film Festival]] without getting a permit from the [[Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (Iran)|Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance]].<ref name=SZN148>{{cite book |last=Zeydabadi-Nejad |first=Saeed |title=The Politics of Iranian Cinema. Film and society in the Islamic Republic |url=https://archive.org/details/politicsiranianc00zeyd |url-access=limited |publisher=Rutledge |location=London & New York |date=2010 |isbn=978-0-415-45537-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/politicsiranianc00zeyd/page/n157 148]}}</ref> At the festival it won the [[Golden Lion]], the FIPRESCI prize, the UNICEF prize, the Ecumenical Special Mention, the Sergio Trazzati Award and Mamizadeh won the Italian Film Journalist's Award for Best Actress.<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 232">Dönmez-Colin. p. 232.</ref> The Ministry of Culture and Guidance issued a permit for the film a few days before its screening at the festival, although they already knew that it had been submitted illegally. The Ministry later banned the film in Iran. Panahi was worried that the Ministry would "confiscate and mutilate" all copies of the film, so he made multiple copies and hid them all over Iran.<ref name=SZN151>Zeydabadi-Nejad. p. 151.</ref> Irans's Cinema Deputy Mohammad-Hassan Pezeshk said that ''The Circle'' was banned because it had "such a completely dark and humiliating perspective."<ref>Zeydabadi-Nejad. p. 153.</ref> It was later withdrawn by Iranian authorities from the Fajr International Film Festival for being "offensive to Muslim women".<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 91"/>

The film went on to win the FIPRESCI Film of the Year Award at the [[San Sebastián International Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emanuellevy.com/article.php?articleID=3576 |title=Profile – Panahi, Jafar: Director Career |publisher=Emanuellevy.com |access-date=16 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927184344/http://www.emanuellevy.com/article.php?articleID=3576 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> appeared on Top 10 lists of critics worldwide<ref name="Dabashi. pp. 394">Dabashi. pp. 394.</ref> and won the Best Film Award at the [[Montevideo International Film Festival]] and the Freedom of Expression Award from the [[National Board of Review]].<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 232"/>

=== ''Crimson Gold'' (2003) ===
{{Quote box|bgcolor=#CCDDFF|align=left|width=25%|quote=When people like me do these things, we know what position we are in. We are recognized around the world and so [the authorities] cannot pressure us too much. If something happens to us, it will be reported everywhere and even here [in Iran]. We have to risk pushing the limits for those kids who are just starting off. Those who are making their first films are forced to do whatever they are told; they allow the censors to mutilate their films. If we do not stand up to the censors the conditions will be worse for the young filmmakers. This would mean that this cinema would not continue; it would be suppressed and end with the few people who make films now. A cinema can survive if it has new filmmakers and makes new films. If we don't resist, the path will be blocked for the new filmmaker and therefore in the eyes of the next generation we will be responsible. There is no other way.|source=—Jafar Panahi<ref name=SZN151/> }}

Panahi directed ''[[Crimson Gold]]'' in 2003, produced by Jafar Panahi Productions.<ref>Dönmez-Colin. p. 247.</ref> The film depicts an impoverished pizza delivery man's failed attempt to rob a jewelry store and the events that drove him to his crime. The story is based on real events that Panahi first heard about when Kiarostami told him the story while they were stuck in a traffic jam on their way to one of Kiarostami's photographic exhibits. Panahi was extremely moved by the story and Kiarostami agreed to write the script for him to direct.<ref>Dabashi. pp. 394–395.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/sep2003/pana-s17.shtml |title= An interview with Jafar Panahi, director of Crimson Gold |publisher= World Socialist Web Site |date= 17 September 2003 |access-date= 25 June 2012}}</ref> Panahi submitted the film to the [[2003 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes Film Festival]] without being granted a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.<ref name=SZN148/> Panahi had applied for the permit but the Ministry demanded several cuts be made to the film. Panahi refused and submitted the film anyway.<ref name=SZN151/> At the festival it won the [[Un Certain Regard]] Jury Award. It later won the Golden Hugo Award for Best Film at the [[Chicago International Film Festival]].<ref>Dönmez-Colin. p. 248.</ref> Like ''The Circle'', ''Crimson Gold'' was banned in Iran.<ref name="Dönmez-Colin. pp. 91"/>

=== ''Offside'' (2006) ===

In 2006 Panahi made ''[[Offside (2006 Iranian film)|Offside]]''. In the film, a group of young Iranian girls disguise themselves as boys to sneak into [[Azadi Stadium]] to watch the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] qualifying [[association football|football]] playoff game between Iran and [[Bahrain]]. The film was partially shot during the actual game it depicts.<ref name="An Interview with Jafar Panahi">{{cite web |url= http://www.reverseshot.com/article/jafar_panahi_interview |title= An Interview with Jafar Panahi |publisher= reverseshot.com |access-date= 25 June 2012}}</ref> Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution women have been banned from attending football matches in Iran on grounds of rowdy and aggressive language, lewd behavior, and seeing men in shorts and short sleeve shirts. At one point [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] had wanted to repeal the law but was overruled by the ulema.<ref name="openDemocracy">{{cite web |url= http://www.opendemocracy.net/arts-Film/offside_3620.jsp |title= Offside rules: an interview with Jafar Panahi |publisher= openDemocracy |date= 6 June 2006 |access-date= 25 June 2012}}</ref> Panahi has stated "I use the football game as a metaphor to show the discrimination against women on a larger scale. All my movies have that topic at their center. This is what I am trying to change in Iranian society."<ref name="Jafar Panahi, An Interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.reflectionson.us/Articles/Jafar%20Panahi.html |title=Jafar Panahi, An Interview |publisher=reflectionson.us |year=2007 |access-date=25 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505161644/http://www.reflectionson.us/Articles/Jafar%20Panahi.html |archive-date=5 May 2011 }}</ref> The film was inspired by an incident several years earlier when Panahi's daughter was refused entry to a football stadium but ended up sneaking into the stadium anyway.<ref name="An Interview with Jafar Panahi"/><ref>[https://archive.today/20120905171610/http://www.opendemocracy.net/print/3620 " Offside rules: an interview with Jafar Panahi"], ''[[OpenDemocracy]]'', 6 June 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2011.</ref>

Knowing that the film would be controversial, Panahi and his crew submitted a fake script about some young men who go to a football match to Iranian authorities in order to get permission to make the film. However, before they began shooting the [[Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (Iran)|Ministry of Guidance]], which issues licenses for films to be shown publicly, told Panahi in advance that because of his past films they would not issue ''Offside'' a license until he re-edited his previous films. Not wanting to miss the World Cup tournament, Panahi ignored the Ministry and began shooting the film. As usual, Panahi cast non-professional actors for the film, and the group of young girls in the lead roles were mostly university students that Panahi found through friends who all were passionate fans of football.<ref name="openDemocracy"/> The film was shot in 39 days and in order to move unnoticed through large crowds Panahi used digital video for the first time so as to have a smaller, more inconspicuous camera. Panahi also officially listed his Assistant Director as the Director of the film so as not to attract the attention of the Ministry of Guidance or the Disciplinary Forces of Tehran, but towards the end of the film's shooting a newspaper article about the making of the film listed Panahi as the director and both organizations attempted to shut the film down and confiscate the footage. Only a sequence that takes place on a bus remained to be filmed so Panahi was able to continue filming without being caught.<ref name="Offside DVD Special Features 2007">''Offside'' DVD Special Features, Jafar Panahi interview, Sony Pictures Classics, 2007.</ref>

[[File:Jafar Panahi (Berlin Film Festival 2006) revised.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Panahi at the [[Berlin Film Festival|2006 Berlin Film Festival]]]]

The film premiered in competition at the 2006 [[Berlin Film Festival]], where Panahi was awarded with the [[Jury Grand Prix|Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix]]. Like ''The Circle'' and ''Crimson Gold'' before it, ''Offside'' was banned from being shown in Iran.<ref name="Jafar Panahi, An Interview"/> Panahi had already set up distribution for the film all over Iran and the film was predicted to break all box office records.<ref name="Offside DVD Special Features 2007"/> Two days after being banned and twenty days before the World Cup championship game, unlicensed DVD copies of the film became available all over Iran.<ref name="Outside the Frame">{{cite web |url= http://blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/outsidetheframe/archive/2009/09/28/jafar-panahi-interview-part-two.aspx |title= Interview with Jafar Panahi, part two
|publisher= Outside the Frame |date= 25 September 2009 |access-date= 26 June 2012}}</ref> Panahi has stated that of his films ''Offside'' is "probably the one that people have seen the most" in Iran.<ref name="Offside DVD Special Features 2007"/> After the film's release a feminist protest group in Iran called the White Scarf Girls began showing up at football matches carrying banners that read: "We don't want to be Offside".<ref name="Offside DVD Special Features 2007"/> [[Sony Pictures Classics]], the film's U.S. distributor, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Guidance in Iran requesting that the film be shown for at least one week in its home country so that they could launch a campaign to nominate the film for Best Foreign Language Film, but the Ministry refused.<ref name="Offside DVD Special Features 2007"/>

=== Other work ===

In 1997 Panahi made the documentary short film ''Ardekoul''. In 2007 he contributed the short film ''Untying the Knot'' to the omnibus film ''Persian Carpet''. The film contains one single long take and is inspired by his childhood.<ref name="offscreen.com"/> In 2010 he made the short film ''The Accordion'', which was commissioned for the ''Then and Now Beyond Borders and Differences'' series of short film by [[Art for The World]]. It premiered at the 2010 [[67th Venice International Film Festival|Venice Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/sep/02/iranian-film-maker-venice-festival |title= Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi banned from Venice film festival |newspaper= The Guardian |date= 2 September 2010 |access-date= 27 June 2012}}</ref> Panahi has referred to the situation in Iran as "the dark ages for filmmaking in Iran" and that he was "presenting the future with something to see, a document of what life was like at that time."<ref name="My interview with Jafar Panahi"/>

Panahi directed a segment of the anthology film ''[[The Year of the Everlasting Storm]]'' which will have its world premiere at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://m.festival-cannes.com/en/infos-communiques/communique/articles/the-films-of-the-official-selection-2021|title=The films of the Official Selection 2021|website=[[Cannes Film Festival]]|date=3 June 2021|access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref> In 2024, he collaborated to ''[[The Witness (2024 film)|The Witness]]'',  serving as screenwriter, editor and artistic consultant.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Desbois |first1=Erwan |title=Venice 2024 review: The Witness (Nader Saeivar) |url=https://icsfilm.org/festivals/venice/2024-venice/venice-2024-review-the-witness-nader-saievar/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=[[International Cinephile Society]] |date=5 September 2024}}</ref>

== Legal problems and controversies ==

=== Earlier legal problems ===

On 15 April 2001, Panahi stopped over at [[JFK International Airport]] in New York City en route from [[Hong Kong]] to [[Buenos Aires]], where he was to participate in a film festival. He was immediately detained by police officers who wanted to fingerprint and photograph him; Panahi refused both requests on the grounds that he was not a criminal. He was threatened with jail and refused an interpreter or a phone call. After being handcuffed and detained at the airport until the next morning, he was finally allowed to make a phone call to his friend Professor Jamsheed Akrami. He was finally photographed and sent back to Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/atoday/stories/s291402.htm|title=Iranian Filmaker {{Sic|nolink=y}} Jahar Panafi detained at JFK airport New York  |last=Cathcart|first=Michael|date=7 May 2001|publisher=ABC.net|access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref><ref>Dabashi. pp. 417–419.</ref>

In 2003, Panahi was arrested and interrogated for four hours by the Information Ministry in Iran, then released after being encouraged to leave Iran.<ref name="My interview with Jafar Panahi"/>

On 30 July 2009, [[Mojtaba Saminejad]], an Iranian blogger and human rights activist writing from Iran, reported that Panahi had been arrested at the cemetery in [[Tehran]] where mourners had gathered near the grave of [[Death of Neda Agha-Soltan|Neda Agha-Soltan]].<ref name=case>[http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/updates-on-new-post-election-protests-in-iran/?hp Updates on New Post-Election Protests in Iran, New York Times] 30 July 2009</ref> He was able to contact friends in the film industry, both in Iran and internationally, and filmmakers and the news media pressured the Iranian government to release him. He was detained for eight hours. The Iranian government claimed he had been arrested by mistake.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.thephoenix.com/blogs/outsidetheframe/archive/2009/09/25/interview-with-jafar-panahi-part-one.aspx |title= Interview with Jafar Panahi, part one |publisher= Outside the Frame |date= 25 September 2009 |access-date= 26 June 2012}}</ref>

In September 2009, Panahi travelled to [[Montreal]] to act as the Head of the Jury at the 2009 [[Montreal World Film Festival]]. At the festival he convinced the entire jury to wear green scarves during the opening and closing ceremonies in solidarity with the Green Movement in Iran. He also openly supported and appeared in photographs with [[Iranian Green Movement]] protesters at the festival.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://blog.thephoenix.com/blogs/outsidetheframe/archive/2009/09/25/interview-with-jafar-panahi-part-one.aspx|title=Interview with Jafar Panahi, part one|date=25 September 2009|access-date=25 June 2012}}</ref>

In February 2010, Panahi requested to travel to the 60th [[Berlin Film Festival]] to participate in the panel discussion on "Iranian Cinema: Present and Future. Expectations inside and outside of Iran". This request was denied.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_5896.html|title=Iranian Director Jafar Panahi Denied Permission to Leave Iran|date=16 February 2010|access-date=6 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220015237/http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_5896.html|archive-date=20 February 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2010 imprisonment ===
{{Infobox criminal
| name              = 
| criminal_charge   = Propaganda against the regime
| penalty           = 6 years imprisonment<br>20-year media and travel ban (except for medical treatment and pilgrimage to [[Mecca]])
| conviction_status = Convicted
| allegiance        = 
| conviction        = 18 December 2010
| capture_status    = Upheld after appeal (15 October 2011)
| partners          = [[Mohammad Rasoulof]]<br>Mehdi Pourmoussa
| apprehended       = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2010|04|01}}
| imprisoned        = [[Evin Prison]], [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
| footnotes         = 
}}

On 1 March 2010, Panahi was arrested again. Plainclothes officers took him, his wife Tahereh Saidi, daughter Solmaz Panahi, and 15 of his friends to [[Evin Prison]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/arts/2010/03/100302_l03_ir88_panahi_arrest.shtml |title=Article on BBC Persian |date=2 March 2010 |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> Most of the group were released after 48 hours and [[Mohammad Rasoulof]] and Mehdi Pourmoussa on 17 March 2010, but Panahi had to remain in [[Prison 209|section 209]] of [[Evin Prison]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rhairan.org/en/?p=1486|title=Jafar Panahi in Evin ward 209|date=6 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727215053/http://www.rhairan.org/en/?p=1486|archive-date=27 July 2011}}</ref> The government confirmed his arrest but did not specify the charges.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/world/middleeast/03iran.html|title= Iran Arrests Filmmaker Who Backed Opposition|date=2 March 2010|work=New York Times | first=Nazila | last=Fathi | access-date=5 May 2010}}</ref>

On 14 April 2010, Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance said that Panahi had been arrested because he had "tried to make a documentary about the unrest that followed the disputed [[2009 Iranian election protests|2009 re-election]] of President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]."{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

On 18 May, Panahi sent a message to Abbas Baktiari, director of the Pouya Cultural Center, an Iranian-French cultural organization in Paris, saying that he was being mistreated in prison and his family were being threatened; as a result had begun a hunger strike.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laregledujeu.org/2010/05/18/1564/the-message-from-jafar-panahi/ |title=Jafar Panahi, The message from Jafar Panahi |date=18 May 2010 |publisher=La Règle du Jeu |access-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> On 25 May he was released on US$200,000 bail while awaiting trial.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jafar Panahi freed from jail in Iran |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/may/25/jafar-pahani-released-iran-prison |newspaper=The Guardian |last=Black |first=Ian |date=25 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212214757/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/may/25/jafar-pahani-released-iran-prison |archive-date=12 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 20 December 2010, after convicting Panahi of "assembly and colluding with the intention to commit crimes against the country's national security and propaganda against the Islamic Republic," the [[Islamic Revolutionary Court]] sentenced him to six years' imprisonment and a 20-year ban from making or directing any movies, writing screenplays, giving interviews to media, or leaving Iran,  except for Hajj holy pilgrimage to [[Mecca]] or [[medical treatment]].<ref name="en.irangreenvoice.com"/> Panahi's colleague [[Mohammad Rasoulof]] also received six years' imprisonment but that sentence was subsequently reduced to one year after appeal.

On 15 October 2011, a court in Tehran upheld Panahi's sentence and ban.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iranian court upholds sentence against filmmaker Jafar Panahi|date=15 October 2011|url=http://dawn.com/2011/10/15/court-upholds-sentence-against-iran-filmmaker-jafar-panahi/|publisher=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> Following the decision, Panahi was placed under [[house arrest]]. He has since been allowed to move more freely but he cannot travel outside Iran.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/17/jafar-panahi-golden-bear-taxi-iran Jafar Panahi asks for Golden Bear winner Taxi to be shown in Iran – theguardian.com 17 Feb. 2015]</ref>

==== International response to the prison and ban sentence ====

The following people and organizations called for his release:
* Filmmakers [[Ken Loach]], the [[Dardenne brothers]], [[Jon Jost]], [[Walter Salles]], [[Olivier Assayas]], [[Tony Gatlif]], [[Abbas Kiarostami]],<ref>{{cite news |url= http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/iranian-filmmaker-speaks-out-on-prisoners/|title=Iranian Filmmaker Speaks Out on Prisoners|date=9 March 2010 | work=The New York Times | first=Robert | last=Mackey | access-date=5 May 2010}}</ref> [[Kiomars Pourahmad]], [[Bahram Bayzai]], [[Asghar Farhadi]], [[Nasser Taghvai]], [[Kamran Shirdel]], and [[Tahmineh Milani]], actors [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]], and [[Mehdi Hashemi (actor)|Mehdi Hashemi]], actresses [[Fatemeh Motamed-Aria]] and [[Golshifteh Farahani]],<ref>{{cite news |url= https://variety.com/2010/film/news/fate-of-iranian-director-still-unknown-1118016696/|title=Variety – Fate of Iranian director still unknown|date=19 March 2010}}</ref> and [[Juliette Binoche]],<ref>[[Juliette Binoche]]</ref> 
* Film critics [[Roger Ebert]], [[Amy Taubin]], [[David Denby (film critic)|David Denby]], [[Kenneth Turan]], [[David Ansen]], [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]], and [[Jean-Michel Frodon]],
*[[Federation of European Film Directors]], [[European Film Academy]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://efareviews.cineuropa.org/2010/03/jafar-panahi-arrest-european-film.html|title=Jafar Panahi Arrest: European Film Academy protests|date=5 March 2010}}</ref> [[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]], [[Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dearcinema.com/news/netpac-calls-release-jafar-panahi|title=NETPAC calls for the release of Jafar Panahi|date=3 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315003648/http://www.dearcinema.com/news/netpac-calls-release-jafar-panahi|archive-date=15 March 2010}}</ref> [[Berlin Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_5984.html|title=Berlinale Statement on Jafar Panahi's arrest|date=11 March 2010|access-date=6 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229023817/http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_5984.html|archive-date=29 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.kviff.com/en/news/1527-iranian-film-director-jafar-panahi-arrested/|title=Karlovy Vary IFF joins protesting the arrest of this renowned artist}}</ref> [[International Film Festival Rotterdam]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/professionals/programme/news/iranian-filmmaker-jafar-panahi-arrested/|title=IFFR's statement against arrest of Jafar Panahi|date=23 April 2025 }}</ref> [[Febiofest]], [[National Society of Film Critics]], [[Toronto Film Critics Association]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://torontofilmcritics.com/blog/2010/03/16/tfca-calls-for-release-of-jafar-panahi-and-mahmoud-rasoulof/|title=TFCA Calls for Release of Jafar Panahi|date=16 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323143351/http://torontofilmcritics.com/blog/2010/03/16/tfca-calls-for-release-of-jafar-panahi-and-mahmoud-rasoulof/|archive-date=23 March 2010}}</ref> and Turkish Cinema Council.

France's [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-iran-filmmaker3-2010mar03,0,1962791.story |title= Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker arrested in late-night raid |author= Borzou Daragahi |date= 3 March 2010 |work= Los Angeles Times|access-date=3 March 2010}}</ref> and minister of culture and communications [[Frédéric Mitterrand]], German foreign minister [[Guido Westerwelle]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2010/100303-Panahi.html|title=Federal Minister Westerwelle calls for the release of Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi|date=3 March 2010}}</ref> Government of Canada, Finnish Green MP [[Rosa Meriläinen]] and [[Human Rights Watch]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/03/11/iran-indict-or-free-filmmakers|title=Iran: Indict or Free Filmmakers|date=12 March 2010}}</ref> have condemned the arrest.

On 8 March 2010 a group of well-known Iranian producers, directors and actors visited Panahi's family to show their support and call for his immediate release. After more than a week in captivity, Panahi was finally allowed to call his family. On 18 March 2010 he was allowed to have visitors, including his family and lawyer. Iran's culture minister said on 14 April 2010 that Panahi had been arrested because he was "making a film against the regime and it was about the events that followed election."<ref name="AFP" /> In an interview with AFP in mid-March, Panahi's wife, Tahereh Saeedi, denied that he was making a film about post-election events, saying: "The film was being shot inside the house and had nothing to do with the regime."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20100414-panahi-arrested-making-anti-regime-film-minister|title=Panahi arrested for making anti-regime film: minister|date=14 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120703032934/http://www.france24.com/en/20100414-panahi-arrested-making-anti-regime-film-minister|archive-date=3 July 2012}}</ref>

In mid-March 50 Iranian directors, actors and artists signed a petition seeking Panahi's release.<ref name="AFP">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hgegozlEasjeFkmeza6Lm8o5VmGg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422231539/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hgegozlEasjeFkmeza6Lm8o5VmGg|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2010|title=Panahi arrested for making anti-regime film: minister|date=14 April 2010|publisher=Agence France-Presse (AFP)|access-date=1 May 2010}}</ref> American film directors [[Paul Thomas Anderson]], [[Joel & Ethan Coen]], [[Francis Ford Coppola]], [[Jonathan Demme]], [[Robert De Niro]], [[Curtis Hanson]], [[Jim Jarmusch]], [[Ang Lee]], [[Richard Linklater]], [[Terrence Malick]], [[Michael Moore]], [[Robert Redford]], [[Martin Scorsese]], [[James Schamus]], [[Paul Schrader]], [[Steven Soderbergh]], [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Oliver Stone]], and [[Frederick Wiseman]] signed a letter on 30 April 2010 urging Panahi's release.<ref name="Lang">{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/article/hollywood-rallies-iranian-directors-defense-16872|title=Hollywood Rallies to Iranian Director's Defense|last=Lang|first=Brent|date=30 April 2010|publisher=The Wrap|access-date=1 May 2010}}</ref> The petition ends, "Like artists everywhere, Iran's filmmakers should be celebrated, not censored, repressed, and imprisoned." He was named a member of the jury at the 2010 [[Cannes Film Festival]] but because of his imprisonment he could not attend and his chair was symbolically kept empty.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jpHYAfyZudZB74BvWLQm7RzlLZGw |title=Iranian director Panahi protests innocence from jail |date=15 May 2010 |agency=Agence France-Presse |archive-date=27 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927124948/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jpHYAfyZudZB74BvWLQm7RzlLZGw |access-date=26 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Further international response ====

On 23 December 2010 [[Amnesty International]] announced that it was mobilizing an online petition spearheaded by [[Paul Haggis]] and [[Nazanin Boniadi]] and signed by [[Sean Penn]], [[Martin Scorsese]], [[Harvey Weinstein]] and others to protest Panahi's sentence.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://deadline.com/2010/12/amnesty-international-enlists-paul-haggis-sean-penn-and-harvey-weinstein-to-protest-imprisonment-of-iranian-filmmakers-93021/ |title=Update: Martin Scorsese Lends Name To Amnesty International Protest of Prison Sentences For Iranian Filmmakers –|magazine=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=16 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20101228001&lang=e |title=Paul Haggis, Sean Penn, Martin Scorsese and Harvey Weinstein Join Amnesty International to Condemn Harsh Sentence for Acclaimed Iranian Director Jafar Panahi &#124; Amnesty International USA |publisher=Amnestyusa.org |date=28 December 2010 |access-date=16 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329091356/http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20101228001&lang=e |archive-date=29 March 2011 }}</ref>

[[Cine Foundation International]], a "nonprofit film company and human rights [[NGO]] aiming to 'empower open consciousness through cinema'" announced on 3 January 2011 that it was launching a campaign of protest films and public actions calling for Panahi's release. "The campaign will include protest films that speak to human rights issues in Iran and throughout the world, six of which are commissioned feature-length, plus twenty shorts. Participating filmmakers may act anonymously or through pseudonyms since voicing their stories can be dangerous. The films, which will address themes of nation, identity, self, spiritual culture, censorship and imprisonment, will be aimed for public, web and various exhibition media".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/01/03/jafar_panahi_cine_foundation_international/ |title=Cine Foundation International Launches Protest Film Campaign, Calls for Panahi Release – Thompson on Hollywood |publisher=Blogs.indiewire.com |date=3 January 2011 |access-date=16 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107002708/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/2011/01/03/jafar_panahi_cine_foundation_international/ |archive-date= 7 January 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinefoundation.org/2011/01/films-for-jafar-panahi-human-rights-cinema-campaign-by-cine-foundation-international/ |title=Cine Foundation International » 'Films For Jafar Panahi & Mohammad Rasulov' — Human Rights Cinema Campaign by Cine Foundation International – Press Release |publisher=Cinefoundation.org |access-date=16 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029100054/http://cinefoundation.org/2011/01/films-for-jafar-panahi-human-rights-cinema-campaign-by-cine-foundation-international/ |archive-date=29 October 2014 }}</ref> Later in January, CFI deployed a video protest mechanism called White Meadows<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news| url=http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/sundance-gets-a-taste-of-iranian-politics/ | work=The New York Times | first=Brooks | last=Barnes | title=Sundance Gets a Taste of Iranian Politics | date=21 January 2011}}</ref> (named for the [[Mohammad Rasoulof]] film [[The White Meadows]], which Panahi edited) and developed by Ericson deJesus (of [[Yahoo!]] and [[frog design]]) at the foundation's request. The video mechanism "allow(s) anyone in the world to record a short video statement about Panahi and Rasoulof. There will be an ESCAPE button at top, allowing quick exit for those in countries where recording a statement would be dangerous. There will be an option to have the screen black, and soon, voice distortion. The video statements will be recorded as mp4s, giving them maximum transmedia capacity, which essentially makes them broadcastable from any device that can show video".<ref name="Payvand">{{cite web|title=Video App Honors Imprisoned Filmmakers, Offers New Way for World to Support Human Rights|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/11/jan/1198.html|website=Payvand Iran News|publisher=NetNative|access-date=29 October 2014|location=San Francisco Bay Area|date=20 January 2011}}</ref> Users can also use the mechanism to comment on how they would "like to see as an international response by the film industry", comment on the state of human rights in general, or "report a human rights abuse to the world".<ref name="Cine Foundation International">{{cite web|url=http://cinefoundation.org/whitemeadows/ |title=Cine Foundation International » White Meadows  |publisher=Cinefoundation.org |access-date=16 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610175950/http://cinefoundation.org/whitemeadows/ |archive-date=10 June 2011 }}</ref>

In his March 2011 greetings to the Iranian people on the occasion of the Iranian New Year, U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] cited Panahi's case as an example of Iran's oppressive regime.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lenziran.com/2011/03/simin-behbahani-jafar-panahi-in-obama-greetings-for-iranian-new-year/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130523040825/http://www.lenziran.com/2011/03/simin-behbahani-jafar-panahi-in-obama-greetings-for-iranian-new-year/ |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 23 May 2013 |title= Simin Behbahani & Jafar Panahi in Obama greetings for Iranian new year |publisher= lenziran.com |date= 21 March 2011 |access-date= 28 June 2012}}</ref> In April 2011 [[Time Magazine]] placed Panahi third on its list of the Top 10 Persecuted Artists who have challenged authority.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2063218_2063273_2063240,00.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110408084614/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2063218_2063273_2063240,00.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 8 April 2011 |title= Top 10 Persecuted Artists |publisher= Time Warner |date= 5 April 2011 |access-date= 28 June 2012}}</ref>

In Spring 2011 [[Boston]]'s [[American Repertory Theater]] and [[System of a Down]]'s [[Serj Tankian]] dedicated their production of ''[[Prometheus Bound]]'' to Panahi and seven other activists, stating in the program notes that "by singing the story of [[Prometheus]], the God who defied the tyrant [[Zeus]] by giving the human race both fire and art, this production hopes to give a voice to those currently being silenced or endangered by modern-day oppressors".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/inside/articles/prometheus-bound-program-program-notes-prometheus-project-about-prometheus-project |title=About the Prometheus Project |date=15 February 2011 |publisher=American Repertory Theater |access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref>

On 26 October 2012 Panahi was announced as a co-winner of the [[European Parliament]]'s [[Sakharov Prize]]. He shared the award with Iranian human rights lawyer [[Nasrin Sotoudeh]].<ref name=G2610 /> European Parliament President [[Martin Schulz]] called them "a woman and a man who have not been bowed by fear and intimidation and who have decided to put the fate of their country before their own".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/10/26/Jailed-Iranians-win-EU-prize/UPI-71301351278456/ |title=Jailed Iranians win EU prize |work=United Press International |date=26 October 2012 |archive-date=27 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027154017/http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/10/26/Jailed-Iranians-win-EU-prize/UPI-71301351278456/ |access-date=26 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Catherine Ashton]], the European Union [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy]], said of the prize, "I am following the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh and other human rights defenders with great concern ... We will continue to campaign for the charges against them to be dropped. We look to Iran to respect the human rights obligations it has signed up to".<ref name=G2610>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/26/nasrin-sotoudeh-jafar-panahi-sakharov-prize |title=Nasrin Sotoudeh and director Jafar Panahi share top human rights prize |author=Saeed Kamali Dehghan |date=26 October 2012 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=30 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030150823/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/26/nasrin-sotoudeh-jafar-panahi-sakharov-prize |access-date=26 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Panahi's daughter Solmaz accepted the award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/press/press_release_speeches/press_release/2012/2012-december/press_release-2012-december-4.html |title=2012 Sakharov Prize: a cry for justice and freedom in Iran |date=12 December 2012 |work=The European Parliament |access-date=26 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520111552/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/press/press_release_speeches/press_release/2012/2012-december/press_release-2012-december-4.html |archive-date=20 May 2013 }}</ref>

In March 2013 [[Columbia University]] professor [[Hamid Dabashi]] wrote an article highly critical of Panahi and his decision to continue making films and partially blaming him for the "tragic endings of Iranian cinema". Dabashi had previously written extensively about and praised Panahi's early career. Dabashi called Panahi's two post-arrest films "self-indulgent vagaries farthest removed from" his previous films and wrote that Panahi "should have heeded the vicious sentence and stayed away from his camera for a while and not indulge, for precisely the selfsame social punch that have made his best films knife-sharp precise has now dulled the wit of the filmmaker that was once able to put it to such magnificent use."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/03/2013320175739100357.html |title=The tragic endings of Iranian cinema |author=Hamid Dabashi |date=21 March 2013 |work=Aljazeera |access-date=24 March 2013}}</ref>

In June 2013 Panahi was invited to join the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-film-academy-new-members-minorities-women-20130628,0,3196133.story |title=Film academy adds 276 new members; increase in minorities, women  |author=Nicole Sperling |date=28 June 2013 |work=The Los Angeles Times |access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref>

In August 2013, shortly after the election of Iranian President [[Hassan Rouhani]], several well-known political prisoners were released. One such prisoner was Panahi's Sakharov Prize co-winner Nasrin Sotoudeh, whose release prompted European Parliament President [[Martin Schulz]] to say "We are eagerly waiting to welcome her in Strasbourg together with her Sakharov Prize co-winner, film director Jafar Panahi."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://bigstory.ap.org/article/iran-releases-human-rights-lawyer-other-prisoners |title=Iran releases human rights lawyer, other prisoners  |author=Nasser Karimi |date=18 September 2013 |work=The Associated Press |access-date=22 September 2013}}</ref> A few days earlier the House of Cinema, Iran's largest professional guild for filmmakers, reopened after having been deemed illegal in January 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/13/iran-film-industry-guild-reopens |title=Iran reopens film guild under new president |author=Ben Child |date=13 September 2013 |work=The Guardian |access-date=22 September 2013}}</ref>

===2022 arrest===
On 11 July 2022, Panahi was arrested when he went to the prosecutor's office to follow up on the situation of another film-maker, [[Mohammad Rasoulof]] and [[Mostafa Aleahmad]]. He was the third director detained in less than a week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2022 |title=Dissident Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi arrested: media |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220711-dissident-iranian-film-maker-jafar-panahi-arrested-media |access-date=11 July 2022 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> On 1 February 2023, Panahi began a [[hunger strike]], demanding his release from prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/02/film-maker-jafar-panahi-begins-hunger-strike-in-iranian-prison|title=Film-maker Jafar Panahi begins hunger strike in Iranian prison|first=Patrick|last=Wintour|date=2 February 2023|access-date=2 February 2023|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> He was released 48 hours later.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Squires |first1=Bethy |title=Jafar Panahi Has Been Released From Prison Following Hunger Strike |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/02/jafar-panahi-hunger-strike-iran-evin-prison.html |access-date=11 March 2023 |work=Vulture |date=3 February 2023 |language=en-us}}</ref>

== 2010–present: further film career ==

===''This Is Not a Film'' (2011)===

In the middle of the controversy and court appeal, Panahi broke the ban imposed on him from making films and made the documentary feature ''[[This Is Not a Film]]'' (2011) in collaboration with Iranian filmmaker [[Mojtaba Mirtahmasb]]. The film was made for €3,200 and shot on a digital camcorder and an [[iPhone]]. It was shot in four days over a ten-day period in March 2011 and its title was inspired by [[René Magritte]]'s painting ''[[The Treachery of Images]]''. In the film Panahi sits in his apartment making phone calls about his court case, watching TV news stories, interacting with his neighbors, talking about his past films and describing scenes from the film that he had begun shooting when he was arrested (much as he had described scenes from films to his sisters as a child). Ten days before the opening of the [[2011 Cannes Film Festival]], ''This Is Not a Film'' was announced as a surprise entry into the festival. It was smuggled out of Iran on a USB thumb drive. Panahi's wife and daughter attended the festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/cannes-q-and-a-the-loneliness-of-the-banned-filmmaker/ |title=Cannes Q. and A.: The Loneliness of the Banned Filmmaker |work=the New York Times|date= 21 May 2011 |access-date= 25 June 2012}}</ref> In December 2012 it was shortlisted as one of 15 films eligible for [[Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature|Best Documentary Feature]] at the [[85th Academy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20121203.html |title=15 Documentary Features Advance In 2012 Oscar® Race |publisher=Oscars.org |date=22 December 2012 |access-date=25 December 2012}}</ref>

=== ''Closed Curtain'' (2013) ===

In October 2012 Kiarostami told a journalist that Panahi had completed a new film that he predicted would be screened in film festivals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/exclusive-banned-from-filmmaking-jafar-panahi-has-made-another-movie-says-kiarostami#comments |title=EXCLUSIVE: Banned From Filmmaking, Jafar Panahi Has Made Another Movie, Says Abbas Kiarostami |publisher=indiewire.com |date=12 October 2012 |access-date=20 January 2013}}</ref> In January 2013 the [[Berlin Film Festival]] announced that it would premiere ''[[Closed Curtain]]'' (''Pardeh'') at its [[63rd Berlin International Film Festival|2013 festival]]. This film was co-directed by Panahi and Kambozia Partovi, who both appear in it along with cast members [[Maryam Moqadam]] and Hadi Saeedi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/berlin-festival-adds-jafar-panahis-closed-curtain-steven-soderberghs-side-effects-401917/ |title=Berlin Festival Adds Jafar Panahi's 'Closed Curtain', Steven Soderbergh's 'Side Effects' |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=11 January 2013 |access-date=20 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/berlin-2013-competition-titles-announced-411230 |title=BERLIN 2013: Steven Soderbergh's 'Side Effects,' Shia LaBeouf Action Comedy in Competition |publisher=hollywoodreporter.com |date=11 January 2013 |access-date=20 January 2013}}</ref> Berlin Film Festival director [[Dieter Kosslick]] is a longtime supporter of Panahi and said that he "asked the Iranian government, the president and the culture minister, to allow Jafar Panahi to attend the world premiere of his film at the Berlinale."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/markets-festivals/berlin-chilly-fest-kicks-off-with-protestors-celebs-1118065846/ |title=Berlin: Chilly fest kicks off with protestors, celebs |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> In the film Partovi and Moqadam star as two people wanted by the police who hide out in a house on the Caspian Sea and always keep the curtains closed to avoid detection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/programm/berlinale_programm/datenblatt.php?film_id=20137882 |title=Pardé |publisher=berlinale.de |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> The film was shown in competition at the 63rd Berlinale in February 2013. Panahi won the Silver Bear for Best Script.<ref>[http://www.berlinale.de/media/pdf_word/service_7/63_ifb/63_Berlinale_Awards.pdf The Awards Die Preise 63rd Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328231728/http://www.berlinale.de/media/pdf_word/service_7/63_ifb/63_Berlinale_Awards.pdf |date=28 March 2018 }} Retrieved 26 March 2013.</ref>

=== ''Taxi'' (2015) ===

In January 2015 it was announced that Panahi's film ''[[Taxi (2015 film)|Taxi]]'' was scheduled to premiere in competition at the [[65th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name=Berlin2015>{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/wettbewerb/wettbewerb-presse-detail_26454.html |title=Jafar Panahi's New Film in Competition. Sebastian Schipper, Werner Herzog, Benoit Jacquot and Further Titles Added to the Selection |publisher=Berlinale |date=14 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> Panahi was awarded the [[Golden Bear]] for the film at the festival.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite news |last1=Connolly |first1=Kate |date=15 February 2015 |title=Banned Iranian director Jafar Panahi wins Berlin film festival's Golden Bear |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/15/berlin-film-festival-golden-bear-jafar-panahi |access-date=15 February 2015}}</ref>

It has been described as "a portrait of the Iranian capital [[Tehran]]"<ref>{{cite news |title=Banned Iranian filmmaker part of the Berlin Film Festival lineup |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/middle-east-updates/1.637012 |publisher=Haaretz.com |date=14 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015}}</ref> and as a "documentary-like film is set in a Tehran taxi that is driven by Panahi."<ref>{{cite news |title=Berlinale to screen "Atom-Heart Mother" |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/arts-and-culture/121065-berlinale-to-screen-atom-heart-mother |newspaper=Tehran Times |date=16 January 2015 |access-date=18 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119081739/http://www.tehrantimes.com/arts-and-culture/121065-berlinale-to-screen-atom-heart-mother |archive-date=19 January 2015 }}</ref>

=== ''Flower'' ===

In December 2014 Panahi won a 2014 [[Motion Picture Association]] Academy Film Fund grant for $25,000 for the screenplay ''Flower'' (''Gol''). He was awarded the grant at the 8th annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane, Australia. The script is about disabled people in Iran and will be directed by Panahi's son [[Panah Panahi]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Frater |first=Patrick |title=Jafar Panahi, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki Among APSA-MPA Award Winners |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/jafar-panahi-mostofa-sarwar-farooki-among-apsa-mpa-award-winners-1201377807/ |magazine=Variety |date=12 December 2014 |access-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> Panahi will be the executive producer of the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/2014/12/2014-apsa-academy-film-fund-recipients-announced/ |title=2014 APSA Academy Film Fund recipients announced |publisher=Asian Pacific Screen Awards |date=11 December 2014 |access-date=19 January 2015}}</ref> It has been described as exploring "the turmoil created by a father's conviction that he must kill his disabled son to bring peace to his family. This challenging drama is drawn from real life, and brings home the plight of people with disabilities in Iran. This film will be directed by Jafar's son, Panah, who is an emerging director of distinction and shares his father's humanist concerns."<ref>{{cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Wendy |title=MPA APSA Fund awards $25,000 |url=http://m.screendaily.com/5081020.article |work=Screen Daily |date=12 December 2014 |access-date=19 January 2015}}</ref>

=== ''No Bears'' (2022) ===

In 2022, Panahi released a new film, ''No Bears'', in which a lightly fictionalised Panahi has moved to a small village immediately adjacent to the Turkish border while directing a movie remotely via laptop. Life begins to mirror art as Panahi becomes embroiled in a local scandal involving two young lovers kept apart by custom, superstition and the local moral authorities while his movie - concerning a couple who are trying to escape Iran using false passports - collapses after the two main actors involved are tangled in a web of lies as they too try to flee the repressive Iranian state for good.

The film won the [[Chicago International Film Festival]] Award for Cinematic Bravery and was nominated for Best Feature. It won Best Film at the [[Trieste Film Festival]] and the [[Oslo Films from the South Festival]] and won the Special Jury Prize at the 2022 [[Venice Film Festival]].

=== ''It Was Just an Accident'' (2025) ===

In April 2025 it was announced that Panahi's latest film, ''[[It Was Just an Accident]]'', would premiere in competition at the [[2025 Cannes Film Festival]] on 20 May.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ntim |first=Zac |date=10 April 2025 |title=Cannes Competition Lineup: Aster, Trier, Dardennes, Reichardt, Ducournau, Wes Anderson & More — Full List |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/cannes-movies-2025-lineup-1236365225/ |access-date=20 May 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Before the premiere the plot of the film was kept secret except for a logline: "What begins as a minor accident sets in motion a series of escalating consequences."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jafar Panahi's Cannes Competition Film 'It Was Just an Accident' Boarded by MK2 Films (Exclusive) |url=https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65227230/ |access-date=20 May 2025 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was shot without a permit from the Iranian government and features women not wearing a hijab to speak out against the country's oppressive hijab law. This is his first film since being released from jail in Iran and his return to Cannes after a seven years absence. It is being produced by  Les Films Pelléas,  co-produced by Bidibul Productions and Pio &Co.

At its premiere, the film received an 8-minute standing ovation, where Panahi gave an emotional speech expressing his guilt for being able to travel freely while his fellow filmmakers are being imprisoned in Iran. In his speech he questioned: "...how I could be happy, how I could feel free, if they were still inside." He continued, "Today, I'm here with you, I receive this joy, but I feel the same emotion. How can I rejoice? How can I be free while in Iran, there are still so many of the greatest directors and actresses of Iranian cinema, who, because they participated in and supported the demonstrators during the Femme Liberté movement, are today prevented from working?"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=20 May 2025 |title=Jafar Panahi Makes Triumphant Cannes Return After Prison Release With 'It Was Just an Accident,' Earning Near 8-Minute Ovation |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/festivals/jafar-panahi-it-was-just-an-accident-cannes-ovation-prison-1236404337/ |access-date=20 May 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

The film later went on to win the [[Palme d'Or]] at the film festival's conclusion.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=24 May 2025 |title=Jafar Panahi Wins Cannes Palme d'Or for 'It Was Just an Accident' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2025-cannes-film-festival-palme-dor-winners-1236228268/ |access-date=24 May 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Style ==

[[File:Jafar Panahi, Cines del Sur 2007.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small>Panahi at Cines del Sur in 2007</small>]]

Panahi's style is often described as an Iranian form of [[Neorealism (art)|neorealism]].<ref name="The Case of Jafar Panahi">{{cite web|url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2001/jafar-panahi/panahi_interview/|title=The Case of Jafar Panahi|date=3 May 2021 }}</ref> Or, in his own words, capturing the "humanitarian aspects of things.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teo |first=Stephen |date=13 June 2015 |title=The Case of Jafar Panahi – An Interview with the Iranian Director of The Circle – Senses of Cinema |url=https://www.sensesofcinema.com/2001/jafar-panahi/panahi_interview/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> Jake Wilson describes his films as connected by a "tension between documentary immediacy and a set of strictly defined formal parameters" in addition to "overtly expressed anger at the restrictions that Iranian society imposes".<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/getting-kicks-in-iran/2006/09/25/1159036473351.html "A mirror under the veil – and inside the stadium", ''The Age''], 26 September 2006</ref>

Panahi differs from his fellow realist filmmaker [[Abbas Kiarostami]] in the explicitness of his social critique. Stephen Teo wrote:
:<blockquote>"Panahi's films redefine the humanitarian themes of contemporary Iranian cinema, firstly, by treating the problems of women in modern Iran, and secondly, by depicting human characters as 'non-specific persons'—more like figures who nevertheless remain full-blooded characters, holding on to the viewer's attention and gripping the senses. Like the best Iranian directors who have won acclaim on the world stage, Panahi evokes humanitarianism in an unsentimental, realistic fashion, without necessarily overriding political and social messages. In essence, this has come to define the particular aesthetic of Iranian cinema. So powerful is this sensibility that we seem to have no other mode of looking at Iranian cinema other than to equate it with a universal concept of humanitarianism."<ref name="sensesofcinema">[http://sensesofcinema.com/2001/jafar-panahi/panahi_interview/ "The Case of Jafar Panahi" at ''Sense of Cinema''], June 2001</ref></blockquote>

Panahi says his style can be described as "humanitarian events interpreted in a poetic and artistic way". "In a world where films are made with millions of dollars, we made a film about a little girl who wants to buy a fish for less than a dollar [''The White Balloon'']—this is what we're trying to show", he said.<ref name="case"/> Panahi has said that "in all of my films, you never see an evil character, male or female. I believe everyone is a good person."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/oct2000/pan-o02.shtml |title= An interview with Jafar Panahi, director of The Circle |publisher= World Socialist Web Site |date= 2 October 2000 |access-date= 25 June 2012}}</ref>

In an interview with Anthony Kaufman, Panahi said: "I was very conscious of not trying to play with people's emotions; we were not trying to create tear-jerking scenes. So it engages people's intellectual side. But this is with assistance from the emotional aspect and a combination of the two."<ref name=indiewire>[https://www.indiewire.com/people/int_Panahi_Jafar_010412.html The Dark Balloon; Jafar Panahi's Vicious "Circle", at ''IndieWire''2001] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103312/http://www.indiewire.com/people/int_Panahi_Jafar_010412.html |date=29 September 2007 }} 4 December 2001</ref>

[[Hamid Dabashi]] has called Panahi the least self-conscious filmmaker in the history of Iranian film<ref name="Dabashi. pp. 394"/> and said that his films represent a post-revolutionary Iranian outlook on itself,<ref name="Dabashi. pp. 395">Dabashi. pp. 395.</ref> calling ''Crimson Gold'' not just a history of a failed jewellery robbery "but also [a history] of recent Iranian history, the history of the failed Islamic revolution and the Iran-Iraq war in particular."<ref name="Dabashi. pp. 395"/>

Dabashi praises Panahi's restrained depiction of violence, saying that his "manner of showing violence without showing who has perpetrated it has now become a trademark of Panahi's cinema."<ref name="Dabashi. pp. 396">Dabashi. pp. 396.</ref> Dabashi specifically cites Razieh's brother in ''The White Balloon'' as clearly having been beaten in one scene, but only being given hints of the violence of Razieh's father from off screen. In ''The Circle'' Nargress has been beaten but we are never told why or by whom. Dabashi writes, "violence in Panahi's cinema is like a phantom: you see through it, but it lacks a source or physical presence—who has perpetrated it is made intentionally amorphous. The result is a sense of fear and anxiety that lurks in every frame of his film, but it is a fear without an identifiable referent."<ref name="Dabashi. pp. 396"/>

Some Iranians have criticized his work, claiming that his films "don't draw a realistic picture of Iran, or that the difficulties encountered by women in [his] films apply to only a certain class of women."<ref>Dönmez-Colin. pp. 92.</ref>

== Personal life ==
Panahi is married to Tahereh (or Tahere) Saidi, whom he first met in college when she was working as a nurse.<ref name="Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2010 |title=همسر جعفر پناهی: می خواهند او را درهم بشکنند |url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/arts/2010/03/100331_l38_panahi_wife_saeedi |access-date=28 May 2025 |website=BBC News فارسی |language=fa}}</ref> They have a son, [[Panah Panahi]],<ref name="Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty"/> a filmmaker, and a daughter, Solmaz. Panah attended the University of Tehran,<ref name="Outside the Frame"/>  and Solmaz studied theater in Tehran.<ref name="Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty"/>

== Filmography ==

=== Feature films ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="5" |Year
! width="130" |Title
! width="130" |Original Title
! Notes
|-
!1995
|''[[The White Balloon]]''
|بادکنک سفيد
|co-written with [[Abbas Kiarostami]]
|-
!1997
|''[[The Mirror (1997 film)|The Mirror]]''
|آینه 
|
|-
!2000
|''[[The Circle (2000 film)|The Circle]]''
|دایره
|co-written with [[Kambuzia Partovi]], banned in Iran before release
|-
!2003
|''[[Crimson Gold]]''
|طلای سرخ
|co-written by [[Abbas Kiarostami]], banned in Iran before release
|-
!2006
|''[[Offside (2006 Iranian film)|Offside]]''
|آفساید
|co-written by Shadmehr Rastin, banned in Iran before release
|-
!2011
|''[[This Is Not a Film]]''
|این فیلم نیست
|co-directed by [[Mojtaba Mirtahmasb]], made illegally
|-
!2013
|''[[Closed Curtain]]''
|پرده
|co-directed by [[Kambuzia Partovi]], made illegally
|-
!2015
|''[[Taxi (2015 film)|Taxi]]''
|تاکسی
| rowspan="2" |Made illegally
|-
!2018
|''[[3 Faces]]''
|سه رخ 
|-
! 2021
| colspan="2" | ''[[The Year of the Everlasting Storm]]''
| Anthology film; segment: "Life"
|-
!2022
|''[[No Bears]]''
|خرس نیست
| rowspan="2" |Made illegally
|-
!2025
|''[[It Was Just an Accident]]''
|یک تصادف ساده
|}

=== Short films ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="5" |Year
! width="130" |Title
! width="130" |Original Title
! Notes
|-
!1988
|''The Wounded Heads''
|''Yarali Bashlar''
|documentary
|-
!1991
| colspan="2" |''Kish''
|documentary
|-
! rowspan="2" |1992
|''The Friend''
|''Doust''
|
|-
|''The Last Exam''
|''Akharin Emtehan''
|
|-
!1993
|''A Second Look''
|''Negah-E Dovom''
|documentary
|-
!1997
| colspan="2" |''Ardekoul''
|documentary
|-
!2007
| colspan="2" |''Untying the Knot''
|part of the omnibus film ''Persian Carpet'' (''Farsh-e Irani'')
|-
!2010
| colspan="2" |''The Accordion''
|part of the ''THEN AND NOW Beyond Borders and Differences'' film series for [[Art for The World]]
|}

=== Other credits ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="5" |Year
! width="130" |Title
! width="130" |Position
! Director
|-
!1991
|''The Fish''
|Assistant director
|[[Kambuzia Partovi]]
|-
!1994
|''[[Through the Olive Trees]]''
|Assistant director, actor
|[[Abbas Kiarostami]]
|-
!1997
|''Traveler from the South''
|Editor
|[[Parviz Shahbazi]]
|-
! rowspan="2" |2005
|''[[Verdict (2005 film)|Verdict]]''
|Editor
|[[Masud Kimiai]]
|-
|''[[Café Transit|Border Café]]''
|Editor
|[[Kambuzia Partovi]]
|-
!2009
|''[[The White Meadows]]''
|Editor
|[[Mohammad Rasoulof]]
|-
!2021
|''[[Hit the Road (2021 film)|Hit the Road]]''
|Producer
|[[Panah Panahi]]
|-
!2024
|''[[The Witness (2024 film)|The Witness]]''
|Editor, co-writer
|Nader Saeivar
|}

== Accolades ==

===Awards and nominations===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Award
! Year
! Category
! Work
! Result
! class="unsortable" | {{Refh}}
|-
! style="text-align:left;" | [[Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival]]
| 2018
| Golden Orange for Best Film
| ''[[3 Faces]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=11 October 2018 |title='3 Faces', 'Shoplifters' win top prizes at Antalya Film Festival |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/3-faces-shoplifters-win-top-prizes-at-antalya-film-festival/5133514.article |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Screen International|Screen Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[Asian Film Awards]]
| [[1st Asian Film Awards|2007]]
| [[Asian Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[Offside (2006 Iranian film)|Offside]]''
| {{Nominated}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=29 January 2007 |title=Hong Kong to host new Asian awards |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/asia/hong-kong-to-host-new-asian-awards-1117958248/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="4" style="text-align: left;" | [[Berlin International Film Festival]]
| [[56th Berlin International Film Festival|2006]]
| [[Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize|Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix]]
| ''[[Offside (2006 Iranian film)|Offside]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Blaney |first=Martin |date=17 February 2006 |title=Berlinale 2006 prize-winners |url=https://www.screendaily.com/berlinale-2006-prize-winners/4026236.article |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Screen International|Screen Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[63rd Berlin International Film Festival|2013]]
| [[Silver Bear for Best Screenplay|Silver Bear for Best Script]]
| ''[[Closed Curtain]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Meza |first=Ed |date=18 February 2013 |title=Berlin: 'Child's Pose' Wins Golden Bear |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/awards/berlin-child-s-pose-wins-golden-bear-1118066268/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[65th Berlin International Film Festival|2015]]
| [[Golden Bear]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Taxi (2015 film)|Taxi]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bartlick |first=Silke |date=15 February 2015 |title=Berlinale Golden Bear Goes to 'Taxi' |url=https://www.dw.com/en/65th-berlinale-awards-meet-up-to-the-festivals-political-reputation/a-18258617 |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[International Federation of Film Critics|FIPRESCI Prize]]
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=15 February 2015 |title=Berlin: International Critics Also Pick Jafar Panahi's 'Taxi' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/berlin-international-critics-pick-jafar-773655/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[Bodil Awards]]
| [[55th Bodil Awards|2002]]
| [[Bodil Award for Best Non-English Language Film|Best Non-American Film]]
| ''[[The Circle (2000 film)|The Circle]]''
| {{Nominated}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Lauridsen |first=Palle Schantz |date=2 March 2002 |title=BODILNOMINERINGER 2002 |url=https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/kirke-tro/bodilnomineringer-2002 |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Kristeligt Dagblad]] |language=da}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="7" style="text-align: left;" | [[Cannes Film Festival]]
| [[1995 Cannes Film Festival|1995]]
| [[Caméra d'Or]]
| ''[[The White Balloon]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Turan |first=Kenneth |date=29 May 1995 |title=A Requiem for Yugoslavia Takes Cannes Prize : Movies: Emir Kusturica's 'Underground' is an impassioned look at the past 50 years. 'I had to do something about a country that I loved, I had a big need to answer the question, "What happened?" ' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-29-ca-7367-story.html |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[2003 Cannes Film Festival|2003]]
| [[Un Certain Regard|''Un Certain Regard'' Jury Prize]]
| ''[[Crimson Gold]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=26 May 2003 |title=Cannes 2003: Award winners |url=https://en.unifrance.org/news/467/cannes-2003-award-winners |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Unifrance]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[2011 Cannes Film Festival|2011]]
| ''Carrosse d'Or''
| {{N/A}}
| {{Honored}}
| <ref>{{Cite news |last=Griffiths |first=Ian J. |date=20 April 2011 |title=Cannes film festival 2011: Jafar Panahi wins Carrosse d'Or |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/apr/20/jafar-panahi-cannes-film-festival |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[2018 Cannes Film Festival|2018]]
| [[Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[3 Faces]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2018 |title=71st Festival de Cannes Awards |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/71st-festival-de-cannes-awards/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Festival de Cannes]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Palme d'Or]]
| {{Nominated}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2018 |title=The 2018 Official Selection |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-2018-official-selection/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Festival de Cannes]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[2025 Cannes Film Festival|2025]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[It Was Just an Accident]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=24 May 2025 |title=The 78th Festival de Cannes winners' list |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/press/press-releases/the-78th-festival-de-cannes-winners-list/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Festival de Cannes]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| ''Prix de la Citoyenneté''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Lemoine |first=Philippe |date=2025-05-24 |title=Cannes 2025. Jafar Panahi reçoit le prix de la Citoyenneté pour son film « Un simple accident » |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/cinema/festival/festival-de-cannes/cannes-2025-jafar-panahi-recoit-le-prix-de-la-citoyennete-pour-son-film-un-simple-accident-73815478-389b-11f0-9096-11e668431f68 |access-date=June 5, 2025 |website=[[Ouest-France]] |language=fr}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[César Awards]]
| [[41st César Awards|2016]]
| [[César Award for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
| ''[[Taxi (2015 film)|Taxi]]''
| {{Nominated}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Felletti |first=Francesca |date=28 January 2016 |title=César 2016: le nomination |url=https://www.vogue.it/people-are-talking-about/vogue-arts/2016/01/cesar-2016-nomination |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Vogue Italia]] |language=it-IT}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left;" | [[Chicago International Film Festival]]
| 2003
| Gold Hugo
| ''[[Crimson Gold]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2003 |title=Iranian film wins fest's Gold Hugo |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/10/13/iranian-film-wins-fests-gold-hugo/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| 2022
| Award for Cinematic Bravery
| ''[[No Bears]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2022 |title=58th Chicago International Film Festival Reveals Award Winners |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/58th-chicago-international-film-festival-reveals-award-winners |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[RogerEbert.com]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[Cinema Eye Honors]]
| 2016
| Heterodox Award
| ''[[Taxi (2015 film)|Taxi]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Hilary |date=12 February 2016 |title='The Look of Silence' Tops Cinema Eye Honors |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2016-cinema-eye-awards-864757/outstanding-achievement-in-nonfiction-short-filmmaking-tie/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[European Parliament]]
| 2012
| [[Sakharov Prize]]
| {{N/A}}
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite news |date=26 October 2012 |title=Iran dissidents Sotoudeh and Panahi win Sakharov prize |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20095403 |access-date=26 May 2025 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[Filmfest Hamburg]]
| 2018
| Douglas Sirk Award
| {{N/A}}
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Blaney |first=Martin |date=8 October 2018 |title=Benedikt Erlingsson's 'Woman At War' wins top award at 2018 Filmfest Hamburg |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/benedikt-erlingssons-woman-at-war-wins-top-award-at-2018-filmfest-hamburg/5133370.article |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Screen International|Screen Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[Locarno Film Festival]]
| 1997
| [[Golden Leopard]]
| ''[[The Mirror (1997 film)|The Mirror]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |title=50th Locarno Film Festival · 1997 |url=https://www.locarnofestival.ch/festival/palmares/1997.html |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Locarno Film Festival]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left;" | [[National Society of Film Critics]]
| [[2012 National Society of Film Critics Awards|2012]]
| Award for Experimental
| ''[[This Is Not a Film]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=King |first=Susan |date=5 January 2013 |title=National Society of Film Critics names 'Amour' best of 2012 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2013-jan-05-la-et-mn-national-society-of-film-critics-names-amour-best-of-2012-20130104-story.html |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[2022 National Society of Film Critics Awards|2022]]
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| ''[[No Bears]]''
| {{Nominated}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Zilko |first=Christian |date=7 January 2023 |title='TÁR' and 'Aftersun' Win Big at National Society of Film Critics Awards (Complete Winners List) |url=https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/national-society-of-film-critics-awards-2023-winners-list-1234797151/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[IndieWire]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[New York Film Critics Circle]]
| [[2022 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|2022]]
| Special Award
| {{N/A}}
| {{Honored}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Hilary |date=2 December 2022 |title=New York Film Critics Circle Names 'Tár' as Best Film of 2022 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-new-york-film-critics-circle-winners-full-list-1235274021/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="text-align: left;" | [[Online Film Critics Society]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Online Film Critics Society Awards 2012|2012]]
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Documentary Film|Best Documentary]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[This Is Not a Film]]''
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Singer |first=Matt |date=7 January 2013 |title='Argo' Takes Best Picture from the Online Film Critics Society |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/argo-takes-best-picture-from-the-online-film-critics-society-128605/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[IndieWire]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Special Achievement|Special Award]]
| {{Won}}
|-
! rowspan="3" style="text-align: left;" | [[Singapore International Film Festival]]
| rowspan="2" | 1998
| Special Jury Prize
| rowspan="2" | ''[[The Mirror (1997 film)|The Mirror]]''
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Sukri |first=Hazeeq |date=4 October 2024 |title=Singapore International Film Festival 2024 to open with Stranger Eyes, Rebecca Lim named first-ever ambassador |url=https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/singapore-international-film-festival-2024-411466 |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[CNA (TV network)|CNA Lifestyle]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| Best Director – Asian Feature Film
| {{Won}}
|-
| 2024
| Cinema Honorary Award
| {{N/A}}
| {{Honored}}
| <ref>{{Cite news |last=Lui |first=John |date=3 October 2024 |title=Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi to receive top honour at Singapore International Film Festival |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/iranian-film-maker-jafar-panahi-to-receive-top-honour-at-singapore-international-film-festival |access-date=26 May 2025 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[Taormina Film Fest]]
| 2010
| Taormina Arte Award
| {{N/A}}
| {{Honored}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyman |first=Eric J. |date=15 June 2010 |title=Jafar Panahi unable to pick up Taormina nod |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/jafar-panahi-unable-pick-taormina-24657/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[Tokyo International Film Festival]]
| 1995
| Gold Prize
| ''[[The White Balloon]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 1995 |title=TOKYO WRAPS ON A WHIMPER |url=https://variety.com/1995/film/features/tokyo-wraps-on-a-whimper-99128593/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align: left;" | [[Valladolid International Film Festival]]
| 2003
| Golden Spike
| ''[[Crimson Gold]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Geitz |first=Christopher |date=2 November 2003 |title=Valladolid fest hands out kudos |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/markets-festivals/valladolid-fest-hands-out-kudos-1117894957/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
! rowspan="5" style="text-align: left;" | [[Venice Film Festival]]
| rowspan="2" | [[57th Venice International Film Festival|2000]]
| [[Golden Lion]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[The Circle (2000 film)|The Circle]]''
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=10 September 2000 |title=Iran's The Circle wins the Golden Lion at Venice |url=https://www.screendaily.com/irans-the-circle-wins-the-golden-lion-at-venice/403560.article |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Screen International|Screen Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[International Federation of Film Critics|FIPRESCI Prize]]
| {{Won}}
|-
| [[67th Venice International Film Festival|2010]]
| Lina Mangiacapre Prize – Special Mention
| ''The Accordion''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2010 |title=THE LION OF THE FUTURE GOES TO VENICE DAYS |url=http://www.venice-days.it/archivioedizioni/2010/newssearcheng.asp?idnews=280 |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Giornate degli Autori]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[79th Venice International Film Festival|2022]]
| [[Golden Lion]]
| rowspan="2" | ''[[No Bears]]''
| {{Nominated}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=26 July 2022 |title=Venice Film Festival Lineup: Aronofsky, Iñárritu, Field, Dominik, Guadagnino, Hogg, McDonagh, Panahi In Competition |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/venice-film-festival-lineup-2022-full-list-1235077241/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| [[Special Jury Prize (Venice Film Festival)|Special Jury Prize]]
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2022 |title=Official Awards of the 79th Venice Film Festival |url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/official-awards-79th-venice-film-festival |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[La Biennale di Venezia]] |language=en}}</ref>
|}

=== Film festival jury memberships ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Festival
! Role
! {{Refh}}
|-
| [[36th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival|2001]]
| [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]] 
| Jury member
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=MacMillan |first=Scott |date=23 May 2001 |title=American Rhapsody, Kinski open Karlovy Vary |url=https://www.screendaily.com/american-rhapsody-kinski-open-karlovy-vary/405785.article |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Screen International|Screen Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2007
| [[Eurasia International Film Festival]]
| Jury member
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastelan |first=Karsten |date=30 October 2007 |title='Heaven,' 'Egg' take Golden Orange nods |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/heaven-egg-take-golden-orange-153666/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| 2007
| [[International Film Festival of Kerala]]
| Chair of the Jury
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashraf |first=Mohammed |date=8 December 2007 |title=Films From 54 Countries to Be Screened at IFFK 2007 |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/306497 |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Arab News]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2008
| [[International Film Festival Rotterdam]]
| Jury member
| <ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2008 |title=Jafar Panahi, Renata Litvinova and Royston Tan join Rotterdam jury |url=https://press.iffr.com/110122-jafar-panahi-renata-litvinova-and-royston-tan-join-rotterdam-jury |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[International Film Festival Rotterdam]] |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2009
| [[Montreal World Film Festival]]
| President of the Jury
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Seguin |first=Denis |date=18 August 2009 |title=Iranian director Jafar Panahi to lead Montreal's competition jury |url=https://www.screendaily.com/iranian-director-jafar-panahi-to-lead-montreals-competition-jury/5004645.article |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=[[Screen International|Screen Daily]] |language=en}}</ref>
|}

== See also ==
*[[Cinema of Iran]]
*[[Intellectual Movements in Iran|Intellectual movements in Iran]]
*[[57th Venice International Film Festival]]
*[[65th Berlin International Film Festival]]
*[[2025 Cannes Film Festival]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last=Dabashi |first=Hamid |author-link=Hamid Dabashi |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm74029333 |title=Masters & masterpieces of Iranian cinema |year=2007 |publisher=Mage Publishers |isbn=978-0-934211-85-7 |location=Washington, DC |oclc=ocm74029333}}
* [[Anton Dolin (film critic)|Dolin, Anton]] (2023). ''Act of Defiance: Films of Jafar Panahi'' {{In lang|ru}}. Novaya Riga. {{ISBN|978-9934-23-818-5}}.
* {{Cite book |last=Dönmez-Colin |first=Gönül |title=Cinemas of the other: a personal journey with film-makers from the Middle East and Central Asia |date=2006 |publisher=Intellect |isbn=978-1-84150-143-7 |location=Bristol Portland (OR) |pages=90-96}}
* {{Cite book |last=Stone |first=Judy |title=Eye on the world: conversations with international filmmakers |date=1997 |publisher=Silman-James Press |isbn=978-1-879505-36-0 |edition=1st |location=Los Angeles |pages=385–387}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
* {{IMDb name|0070159|Jafar Panahi}}

{{Jafar Panahi}}
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|title = Awards for Jafar Panahi
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{{Prix du scénario}}
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{{Green Movement}}
{{List of political prisoners of Iran}}

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