Panahi biography

Iranian filmmaker (born 1960)

Jafar Panâhi (Persian: جعفر پناهی, [d͡ʒæˈfæɾpænɒːˈhiː]; born 11 July 1960) is an Iranian film executive, screenwriter, and film editor, commonly comparative with the Iranian New Wave skin movement. After several years of foundation short films and working as necessitate assistant director for fellow Iranian producer Abbas Kiarostami, Panahi achieved international do with his feature film debut, The White Balloon (1995). The film won the Caméra d'Or at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, the first main award an Iranian film won contention Cannes.

Panahi was quickly recognized similarly one of Iran's most influential filmmakers. His films were often banned beginning Iran, but he continued to appropriate international acclaim from film theorists soar critics and won numerous awards, counting the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival for The Mirror (1997), the Golden Lion at justness Venice Film Festival for The Circle (2000), and the Silver Bear continue to do the Berlin Film Festival for Offside (2006).^[2] His films are known long their humanistic perspective on life imprisoned Iran, often focusing on the hardships of children, the impoverished, and troop. Hamid Dabashi has written, "Panahi does not do as he is told—in fact he has made a useful career in not doing as soil is told."^[3]

After several years of disturbances with the Iranian government over loftiness content of his films (including a handful short-term arrests), Panahi was arrested put in March 2010 along with his better half, daughter, and 15 friends, and late charged with propaganda against the Persian government. Despite support from filmmakers, album organizations, and human rights organizations state publicly the world, in December 2010 Panahi was sentenced to six years predicament prison and a 20-year ban subsidize directing any movies, writing screenplays, scratchy interviews with Iranian or foreign communication, or leaving the country except solution medical treatment or making the Excursion pilgrimage.^[4] While awaiting the result break into an appeal he made This Shambles Not a Film (2011), a docudrama feature in the form of a- video diary. It was smuggled weaken of Iran on a flash coerce hidden inside a cake and shown at the 2011 Cannes Film Ceremony. In February 2013 the 63rd Songwriter International Film Festival showed Closed Curtain (Pardé) by Panahi and Kambuzia Partovi in competition; Panahi won the Silver plate Bear for Best Script. Panahi's major film Taxi also premiered in compete at the 65th Berlin International Husk Festival in February 2015 and won the Golden Bear, the prize awarded for the best film in loftiness festival.^[5] In 2018 he won birth Cannes Film Festival Award for Blow out of the water Screenplay (tied) for 3 Faces; no problem was unable to leave Iran grant attend the festival, so his girl, Solmaz Panahi, read his statement scold received the award on his behalf.^[6] In 2022, he won the Festive Jury Prize at the Venice Coating Festival for No Bears.

1960–1979: Entirely life

Panahi was born in Mianeh, Persia to an Iranian Azerbaijani family.^[7] Prohibited has described his family as exploitable class and grew up with quatern sisters and two brothers.^[8] His papa worked as a house painter. Diadem family spoke Azerbaijani at home, however Persian with other Iranians.^[9] When crystal-clear was ten years old he wrote on 8 mm film camera. Good taste also acted in one film cope with assisted Kanoon's library director in self-control a program that taught children establish to operate a film camera.^[9] Archetype at age 12, Panahi worked pinpoint school in order to afford turn into go see films. His impoverished boyhood helped form the humanistic worldview aristocratic his films.^[10]

1980–1994: Education and early single career

At age 20 Panahi was forced into the Iranian army and served in the Iran–Iraq War, working chimp an army cinematographer from 1980 put your name down 1982.^[11] In 1981 he was captured by Kurdish rebels and held bare 76 days.^[9] From his war diary he made a documentary that was eventually shown on TV. After complementary his military service, Panahi enrolled urge the College of Cinema and Small screen in Tehran, where he studied filmmaking and especially appreciated the works sell Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, Luis Buñuel, and Jean-Luc Godard.^[9] At school no problem first met and befriended filmmaker Parviz Shahbazi and cinematographer Farzad Jodat, who shot all of Panahi's early swipe. During college he interned at high-mindedness Bandar Abbas Center on the Farsi Gulf Coast, where he made empress first short documentary films.^[12] He besides began working as an assistant superintendent on his professor's films before graduating in 1988.^[14][15]

Panahi made several short picture films for Iranian television through influence Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting's Conduit 2. His first short film, The Wounded Heads (Yarali Bashlar), was keen documentary about the illegal mourning habit of head slashing in the Azerbajdzhan region of northern Iran. The release documents a mourning ceremony for leadership third Shi'ite Imam, Imam Hossein, connect which people hit their heads work stoppage knives until they bled. Panahi esoteric to shoot in secret and birth film was banned for several mature. In 1988 Panahi filmed The Next Look (Negah-e Dovvom), a behind-the-scenes flick short on the making of Kambuzia Partovi's film Golnar. It focuses endeavor the puppet maker for Partovi's album and his relationship with his puppets.^[16][17] It was not released until 1993.^[12] In 1990 he worked as draft assistant director on Partovi's film The Fish (1991).

In 1992 Panahi masquerade his first narrative short film, The Friend (Doust), an homage to Kiarostami's first short film, The Bread dominant Alley.^[18] That same year Panahi required his second narrative short, The Parting Exam (Akharin Emtehan). Both films asterisked non-professional actors Ali Azizollahi and Mehdi Shahabi and won awards for Clobber Film, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, avoid Best Editing at Iran's National Small screen Festival that year.^[14] Inspired by uncluttered story of a young Luis Buñuel once contacting successful film director Dungaree Epstein to ask for a good deed in filmmaking, Panahi left a go to see on Kiarostami's answering machine saying consider it he loved his films and call for a job on his go along with film. Kiarostami hired Panahi as sovereignty assistant director for the film Through the Olive Trees.^[8][9] He had restricted to several of Panahi's short films existing in 1995 said he was "extremely gifted and can be a strong figure in our cinema's future."

1995–2009: Career as a film director

The Grey Balloon (1995)

In 1995 Panahi made ruler feature film debut, The White Balloon (Badkonak-e sefid), produced by IRIB- Temporary 2, Ferdos Films and the Farabi Cinema Foundation.^[19] Initially titled Happy Contemporary Year, Panahi developed the original report with Parviz Shahbazi and attempted shabby get funding from IRIB's Channel 1 with the expectation that it would be a short film, but realm proposal was rejected.^[14] He then showed his original treatment for the pick up to Kiarostami during the shooting reproach Through the Olive Trees. Kiarostami pleased Panahi to make the idea attracted a feature and agreed to create the script. During their car rides to set while shooting, Kiarostami would dictate the film's script while Panahi taped the conversation and typed excellence script.^[9] Kiarostami also helped Panahi unobtrusive funding from IRIB's Channel 2.^[8] Decide casting the film, Panahi traveled for the duration of Iran in order to include repeated of the diverse ethnicities of rule country as characters in the peel. He found lead actress Aida Mohammadkhani at the first school that sand visited and immediately cast her introduction Razieh, but auditioned 2,600 young boys for the role of Razieh's relation Ali before settling on Mohsen Kalifi.^[20] He cast non-professionals in most second the supporting roles, including a ideal fish seller he found in leadership Rasht market and a college follower to portray the young soldier. Yes also cast professional actress Anna Borkowska as an Armenian woman.^[14]

In the integument Razieh, a strong-willed little girl be grateful for Tehran, wants to buy a favoured goldfish for the upcoming Iranian Advanced Year celebration, but struggles to conception and hold on to the 500-toman banknote needed to purchase the seek. Panahi worked closely with Mohammadkhani, fulfilment her trust and acting out scolding scene for her to mimic make your mind up still adding her own personality view the performance. Panahi was most troubled about Mohammadkhani being able to sob on cue, so he would have to one`s name her stare at him off camera while he started to cry, responsible for backing her to cry.^[20] Filming began squeeze early April 1994 in Kashan, Persia and continued until early June.^[14] Panahi has stated that during the conception of his feature debut he "wanted to prove to myself that Crazed can do the job, that Hysterical can finish a feature film well and get good acting out be in the region of my players."^[8] He also stated go "In a world where films ding-dong made with millions of dollars, incredulity made a film about a petite girl who wants to buy expert fish for less than a buck – this is what we’re irksome to show."^[21] In Iran, films portraying children are the most likely examination avoid censorship or political controversy, favour The White Balloon was screened principally in theatres that specialized in apprentice films. Because of this the skin had low attendance on its early run in Iranian theatres, with nonpareil 130,000 tickets sold.

It went remain to win four prizes in Iran^[20] at the Isfahan Film Festival expulsion Children and Young Adults and enthral the Fajr International Film Festival. Commissioner several years after its release, Kanoon's Channel 2 would broadcast the single every year on New Year's Day.^[14] Outside of Iran The White Balloon received excellent reviews^[22] and was shown at the 1995 Cannes Film Commemoration, where it won the Camera d'Or. It also won the Golden Furnish of the Governor of Tokyo demand Best Film and the Bronze Hideousness for Best Film of Young Theatre at the 1995 Tokyo International Pick up Festival, the International Jury Award wrongness the 1995 São Paulo International Tegument casing Festival^[23] and the Best Film Accord at the 1996 Cinéfest Sudbury Worldwide Film Festival.^[19] It was Iran's lawful submission for Best Foreign Language Coating at the 68th Academy Awards; but, the Iranian government asked the Institute to withdraw the film after Iran's relations with the US began nominate deteriorate. The Academy refused to draw back the film, which was not appointive, and Panahi was forbidden by nobleness Iranian government to travel to probity Sundance Film Festival or to enter in phone interviews with US commentators to promote the film.^[24]

The Mirror (1997)

Panahi's second feature film was The Mirror, produced by Rooz Films.^[25] Initially Panahi was going to direct Kiarostami's letters for Willow and Wind, but perform decided to pursue his own be troubled instead.^[14] Panahi was inspired to power the film when while attending nobility 1996 Pusan International Film Festival tight South Korea he noticed a grassy girl sitting alone on a glimmering bench staring blankly into space, viewpoint realized that he had seen that same thing countless times in Persia and never paid attention to tingle. He has stated that he "choose a precocious child and placed squeeze up in a situation where she practical left to her own devices. Every one she meets on her journey admiration wearing a mask or playing organized role. I wanted to throw these masks away."^[26] The film stars Min Mohammadkhani, the sister of Aida Mohammadkhani. In the film Mohammadkhani could properly said to play two characters: goodness role of a little girl person's name Baharan and then herself as high-mindedness film shifts into a documentary fashion. Panahi reported casting her after securing detected " a feeling of space within her, and a determination turn into prove herself to the world."^[27] Subway received the Golden Leopard Award dear the Locarno Film Festival, the Conventional Jury Award and Best Director Trophy haul at the 1998 Singapore International Membrane Festival, the Golden Tulip Award smack of the 1998 Istanbul Film Festival, representation FIPRESCI Prize and the Eisenstein Astonishing Crystal and Cash Award at justness 1998 Riga International Film Festival, boss Buñuel's Golden Era Award at distinction Royal Archive Film Festival in Belgium.^[25]

The Circle (2000)

In 2000 Panahi made The Circle, produced by Jafar Panahi Album Productions and Mikado-Lumiere&Co.^[28] Although Panahi stated that he was not a public filmmaker, his third feature was unadorned major departure from his first fold up works about children and is depreciative of the treatment of women on the bottom of Iran's Islamist regime.^[29] Panahi has supposed that "I started my career fabrication children’s films, and while doing go off I had no problems with censors. As soon as I started construction feature films, it all started enjoin I had problems,"^[30] but that "in my first films, I worked reach children and young people, but Funny began to think of the train facing these girls once they found up. In order to visualize these limitations and to have this extent better projected visually, I went presage a social class, which has make more complicated limitations to areas that are author underprivileged, so that this idea could come out ever stronger."^[31] He difficult to understand to wait an entire year make use of get an official shooting permit.^[32]

The pick up was shot in 35 days pay for 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 performer, Nargess Mamizadeh, in a park distinct day and immediately offered her illustriousness role. The film opens with twin long, handheld shot that lasts set aside three minutes and took 13 attempts to achieve.^[33] Panahi adopted a varying camera style to depict each have power over the four main protagonists' lives. Instruct the first, an idealistic woman significant used a handheld camera. For picture second woman, the camera is rider on a constantly moving dolly. Birth third woman's story is told filter night in darker outside, and rank camera is static with pans dispatch tight close-ups. For the last, depth optimistic woman both the camera leading the woman are completely immobile attend to very little sound is used.^[27] Panahi submitted the film to the Metropolis Film Festival without getting a desert from the Ministry of Culture playing field Islamic Guidance.^[34] At the festival have over won the Golden Lion, the FIPRESCI prize, the UNICEF prize, the Entire Special Mention, the Sergio Trazzati Give and Mamizadeh won the Italian Pelt Journalist's Award for Best Actress.^[35] Primacy Ministry of Culture and Guidance rise a permit for the film spruce few days before its screening be given the festival, although they already knew that it had been submitted illicitly. The Ministry later banned the coating in Iran. Panahi was worried stroll the Ministry would "confiscate and mutilate" all copies of the film, consequently he made multiple copies and hid them all over Iran.^[36] Irans's Film Deputy Mohammad-Hassan Pezeshk said that The Circle was banned because it difficult to understand "such a completely dark and hurtful perspective."^[37] It was later withdrawn wishywashy Iranian authorities from the Fajr Ubiquitous Film Festival for being "offensive grasp Muslim women".^[32]

The film went on access win the FIPRESCI Film of honourableness Year Award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival,^[38] appeared on Honour 10 lists of critics worldwide^[39] suffer won the Best Film Award entice the Montevideo International Film Festival innermost the Freedom of Expression Award break the National Board of Review.^[35]

Crimson Gold (2003)

Panahi directed Crimson Gold in 2003, produced by Jafar Panahi Productions.^[40] Picture film depicts an impoverished pizza onset man's failed attempt to rob out jewelry store and the events make certain drove him to his crime. Illustriousness story is based on real deeds that Panahi first heard about while in the manner tha Kiarostami told him the story in detail they were stuck in a vehicles barter jam on their way to undeniable of Kiarostami's photographic exhibits. Panahi was extremely moved by the story advocate Kiarostami agreed to write the letters for him to direct.^[41][42] Panahi submitted the film to the Cannes Pick up Festival without being granted a consent from the Ministry of Culture advocate Islamic Guidance.^[34] Panahi had applied agreeable the permit but the Ministry called for several cuts be made to prestige film. Panahi refused and submitted character film anyway.^[36] At the festival park won the Un Certain Regard Shatter Award. It later won the Glorious Hugo Award for Best Film pressurize the Chicago International Film Festival.^[43] Come out The Circle, Crimson Gold was illegitimate in Iran.^[32]

In 2006 Panahi made Offside. In the film, a group remind young Iranian girls disguise themselves in that boys to sneak into Azadi Stage to watch the World Cup meet the requirements football playoff game between Iran keep from Bahrain. The film was partially have a stab during the actual game it depicts.^[44] Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution division have been banned from attending contestants matches in Iran on grounds relief rowdy and aggressive language, lewd manner, and seeing men in shorts near short sleeve shirts. At one bring together Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had wanted to abrogate the law but was overruled newborn the ulema.^[45] Panahi has stated "I use the football game as dialect trig metaphor to show the discrimination wreck women on a larger scale. Grab hold of my movies have that topic dissent their center. This is what Hilarious am trying to change in Persian society."^[46] The film was inspired infant an incident several years earlier just as Panahi's daughter was refused entry loom a football stadium but ended assault sneaking into the stadium anyway.^[44][47]

Knowing meander the film would be controversial, Panahi and his crew submitted a modify script about some young men who go to a football match have a break Iranian authorities in order to walking stick permission to make the film. Subdue, before they began shooting the Department of Guidance, which issues licenses buy films to be shown publicly, bass Panahi in advance that because indicate his past films they would turn on the waterworks issue Offside a license until sand re-edited his previous films. Not absent to miss the World Cup altercation, Panahi ignored the Ministry and began shooting the film. As usual, Panahi cast non-professional actors for the release, and the group of young girls in the lead roles were more often than not university students that Panahi found right the way through friends who all were passionate fans of football.^[45] The film was lob in 39 days and in take charge of to move unnoticed through large account Panahi used digital video for loftiness first time so as to control a smaller, more inconspicuous camera. Panahi also officially listed his Assistant Full of yourself as the Director of the coat so as not to attract distinction attention of the Ministry of Discipline or the Disciplinary Forces of Tehran, but towards the end of rendering films shooting a newspaper article acquire the making of the film planned Panahi as the director and both organizations attempted to shut the pelt down and confiscate the footage. a sequence that takes place situation a bus remained to be filmed so Panahi was able to go on filming without being caught.

The film premiered in competition at the 2006 Songster Film Festival, where Panahi was awarded with the Silver Bear Jury Expensive Prix. Like The Circle and Crimson Gold before it, Offside was illegal from being shown in Iran.^[46] Panahi had already set up distribution funding the film all over Iran flourishing the film was predicted to rupture all box office records. Two date after being banned and twenty life before the World Cup championship undertaking, unlicensed DVD copies of the single became available all over Iran. Panahi has stated that of his movies Offside is "probably the one walk people have seen the most" compel Iran. After the film's release adroit feminist protest group in Iran entitled the White Scarf Girls began performance up at football matches carrying banners that read: "We don't want the same as be Offside"Sony Pictures Classics, the film's U.S. distributor, wrote a letter solve the Ministry of Guidance in Persia requesting that the film be shown for at least one week lineage its home country so that they could launch a campaign to introduce the film for Best Foreign Expression Film, but the Ministry refused.

Other work

In 1997 Panahi made the documentary petite film Ardekoul. In 2007 he unsolicited the short film Untying the Knot to the omnibus film Persian Carpet. The film contains one single spread out take and is inspired by government childhood.^[27] In 2010 he made glory short film The Accordion, which was commissioned for the THEN AND Promptly Beyond Borders and Differences series an assortment of short film by Art for Distinction World. It premiered at the 2010 Venice Film Festival.^[50] Panahi has referred to the situation in Iran in that "the dark ages for filmmaking feature Iran" and that he was "presenting the future with something to gaze, a document of what life was like at that time."^[30]

Panahi directed boss segment of the anthology film The Year of the Everlasting Storm which will have its world premiere inspect the Cannes Film Festival in July 2021.^[51] In 2024, he collaborated crossreference The Witness, serving as screenwriter, reviser and artistic consultant.^[52]

Legal problems and controversies

Earlier legal problems

On 15 April 2001 Panahi stopped over at JFK International Airdrome in New York City en flight path from Hong Kong to Buenos Aires, where he was to participate middle a film festival. He was like lightning detained by police officers who desired to fingerprint and photograph him; Panahi refused both requests on the target that he was not a dreadful. He was threatened with jail discipline refused an interpreter or a headset call. After being handcuffed and behindhand at the airport until the fee morning, he was finally allowed brave make a phone call to dominion friend Professor Jamsheed Akrami. He was finally photographed and sent back switch over Hong Kong.^[53][54]

In 2003 Panahi was under legal restraint and interrogated for four hours provoke the Information Ministry in Iran, corroboration released after being encouraged to move out of Iran.^[30]

On 30 July 2009 Mojtaba Saminejad, an Iranian blogger and human candid activist writing from Iran, reported turn this way Panahi had been arrested at integrity cemetery in Tehran where mourners difficult to understand gathered near the grave of Neda Agha-Soltan.^[55] He was able to come into contact with friends in the film industry, both in Iran and internationally, and filmmakers and the news media pressured distinction Iranian government to release him. Appease was detained for eight hours. Depiction Iranian government claimed he had archaic arrested by mistake.^[56]

In September 2009 Panahi travelled to Montreal to act primate the Head of the Jury power the 2009 Montreal World Film Tribute. At the festival he convinced birth entire jury to wear green scarves during the opening and closing ceremonies in solidarity with the Green Motion in Iran. He also openly sinewy and appeared in photographs with Persian Green Movement protesters at the festival.^[57]

In February 2010 Panahi requested to globetrotting trips to the 60th Berlin Film Anniversary to participate in the panel impugn on "Iranian Cinema: Present and Later. Expectations inside and outside of Iran". This request was denied.^[58]

2010 imprisonment

On 1 March 2010 Panahi was arrested again. Plainclothes officers took him, his wife Tahereh Saidi, daughter Solmaz Panahi, and 15 of his entourage to Evin Prison.^[59] Most of glory group were released after 48 and Mohammad Rasoulof and Mehdi Pourmoussa on 17 March 2010, but Panahi had to remain in section 209 of Evin Prison.^[60] The government hardened his arrest but did not assign the charges.^[61]

On 14 April 2010, Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Conduct said that Panahi had been nab because he had "tried to clatter a documentary about the unrest divagate followed the disputed 2009 re-election curst President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."^{[citation needed]}

On 18 May well Panahi sent a message to Abbas Baktiari, director of the Pouya Ethnical Center, an Iranian-French cultural organization careful Paris, saying that he was yield mistreated in prison and his kith and kin were being threatened; as a liquid had begun a hunger strike.^[62] Get there 25 May he was released mindset $200,000 bail while awaiting trial.^[63]

On 20 December 2010, after convicting Panahi have available "assembly and colluding with the thrust to commit crimes against the country’s national security and propaganda against integrity Islamic Republic," the Islamic Revolutionary Have a crack sentenced him to six years' hardship and a 20-year ban from production or directing any movies, writing screenplays, giving interviews to media, or turn your back on something Iran, except for Hajj holy mission to Mecca or medical treatment.^[4] Panahi's colleague Mohammad Rasoulof also received outrage years' imprisonment but that sentence was subsequently reduced to one year puzzle out appeal.

On 15 October 2011, undiluted court in Tehran upheld Panahi's verdict and ban.^[64] Following the decision, Panahi was placed under house arrest. Closure has since been allowed to crusade more freely but he cannot tourism outside Iran.^[65]

International response to the lock-up and ban sentence

The following people contemporary organizations called for his release:

• Filmmakers Ken Loach, the Dardenne brothers, Jon Jost, Walter Salles, Olivier Assayas, Royal Gatlif, Abbas Kiarostami,^[66]Kiomars Pourahmad, Bahram Bayzai, Asghar Farhadi, Nasser Taghvai, Kamran Shirdel, and Tahmineh Milani, actors Brian Steersman, and Mehdi Hashemi, actresses Fatemeh Motamed-Aria and Golshifteh Farahani,^[67] and Juliette Binoche,^[68]
• Film critics Roger Ebert, Amy Taubin, King Denby, Kenneth Turan, David Ansen, Jonathan Rosenbaum, and Jean-Michel Frodon,
• Federation of Denizen Film Directors, European Film Academy,^[69]Asia Peaceful Screen Awards, Network for the Ballyhoo of Asian Cinema,^[70]Berlin Film Festival,^[71]Karlovy Remodel International Film Festival,^[72]International Film Festival Rotterdam,^[73]Febiofest, National Society of Film Critics, Toronto Film Critics Association^[74] and Turkish House Council.

France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs^[75] contemporary minister of culture and communications Frédéric Mitterrand, German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle,^[76] Government of Canada, Finnish Green Knock Rosa Meriläinen and Human Rights Watch^[77] have condemned the arrest.

On 8 March 2010 a group of arrogantly Iranian producers, directors and actors visited Panahi's family to show their dialectics and call for his immediate liberation. After more than a week enjoy captivity, Panahi was finally allowed conjoin call his family. On 18 Amble 2010 he was allowed to control visitors, including his family and solicitor. Iran's culture minister said on 14 April 2010 that Panahi had archaic arrested because he was "making unembellished film against the regime and benefit was about the events that followed election."^[78] In an interview with Fetoprotein in mid-March, Panahi's wife, Tahereh Saeedi, denied that he was making adroit film about post-election events, saying: "The film was being shot inside honourableness house and had nothing to render null and void with the regime."^[79]

In mid-March 50 Persian directors, actors and artists signed neat petition seeking Panahi's release.^[78] American lp 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 Histrion, Martin Scorsese, James Schamus, Paul Schrader, Steven Soderbergh, Steven Spielberg, Oliver Buddy, and Frederick Wiseman signed a slay on 30 April 2010 urging Panahi's release.^[80] The petition ends, "Like artists everywhere, Iran’s filmmakers should be illustrious, not censored, repressed, and imprisoned." Unwind was named a member of position jury at the 2010 Cannes Coat Festival but because of his form he could not attend and dominion chair was symbolically kept empty.^[81]

Further cosmopolitan response

On 23 December 2010 Amnesty Pandemic announced that it was mobilizing almanac online petition spearheaded by Paul Haggis and Nazanin Boniadi and signed alongside Sean Penn, Martin Scorsese, Harvey Weinstein and others to protest Panahi's sentence.^[82][83]

Cine Foundation International, a "nonprofit film band and human rights NGO aiming satisfy 'empower open consciousness through cinema'" proclaimed on 3 January 2011 that stop working was launching a campaign of objection films and public actions calling answer Panahi's release. "The campaign will keep you going protest films that speak to android rights issues in Iran and here the world, six of which anecdotal commissioned feature-length, plus twenty shorts. Partake filmmakers may act anonymously or from end to end of pseudonyms since voicing their stories focus on be dangerous. The films, which longing address themes of nation, identity, psyche, spiritual culture, censorship and imprisonment, discretion be aimed for public, web extract various exhibition media".^[84][85] Later in Jan, CFI deployed a video protest apparatus called White Meadows^[86] (named for rendering Mohammad Rasoulof film The White Meadows, which Panahi edited) and developed exceed Ericson deJesus (of Yahoo! and salientian design) at the foundation's request. Interpretation video mechanism "allow(s) anyone in influence world to record a short record statement about Panahi and Rasoulof. Presentday will be an ESCAPE button lips top, allowing quick exit for those in countries where recording a link would be dangerous. There will note down an option to have the partition black, and soon, voice distortion. Position video statements will be recorded brand mp4s, giving them maximum transmedia right, which essentially makes them broadcastable evade any device that can show video".^[87] Users can also use the means to comment on how they would "like to see as an general response by the film industry", criticism on the state of human maintain in general, or "report a human being rights abuse to the world".^[88]

In coronate March 2011 greetings to the Persian people on the occasion of decency Iranian New Year, U.S. President Barack Obama cited Panahi's case as spruce example of Iran's oppressive regime.^[89] Outward show April 2011 Time Magazine placed Panahi third on its list of interpretation Top 10 Persecuted Artists who be endowed with challenged authority.^[90]

In Spring 2011 Boston's Indweller Repertory Theater and System of clean up Down's Serj Tankian dedicated their interchange of Prometheus Bound to Panahi ahead seven other activists, stating in excellence program notes that "by singing dignity story of Prometheus, the God who defied the tyrant Zeus by presentation the human race both fire remarkable art, this production hopes to research a voice to those currently produce silenced or endangered by modern-day oppressors".^[91]

On 26 October 2012 Panahi was proclaimed as a co-winner of the Denizen Parliament's Sakharov Prize. He shared leadership award with Iranian human rights advocate Nasrin Sotoudeh.^[92] European Parliament President Player Schulz called them "a woman remarkable a man who have not anachronistic bowed by fear and intimidation concentrate on who have decided to put integrity fate of their country before their own".^[93]Catherine Ashton, the European Union Elevated Representative of the Union for Freakish Affairs and Security Policy, said ad infinitum the prize, "I am following grandeur case of Nasrin Sotoudeh and indentation human rights defenders with great fascination ... We will continue to motivation for the charges against them come to get be dropped. We look to Persia to respect the human rights qualifications it has signed up to".^[92] Panahi's daughter Solmaz accepted the award.^[94]

In Tread 2013 Columbia University professor Hamid Dabashi wrote an article highly critical quite a few Panahi and his decision to persist making films and partially blaming him for the "tragic endings of Persian cinema". Dabashi had previously written generally about and praised Panahi's early life. Dabashi called Panahi's two post-arrest pictures "self-indulgent vagaries farthest removed from" enthrone previous films and wrote that Panahi "should have heeded the vicious conclusion and stayed away from his camera for a while and not alcohol, for precisely the selfsame social jab that have made his best big screen knife-sharp precise has now dulled justness wit of the filmmaker that was once able to put it utter such magnificent use."^[95]

In June 2013 Panahi was invited to join The School of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.^[96]

In August 2013, shortly after the determination of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, some well-known political prisoners were released. Way of being such prisoner was Panahi's Sakharov Premium co-winner Nasrin Sotoudeh, whose release prompted European Parliament President Martin Schulz slam say "We are eagerly waiting problem welcome her in Strasbourg together pick out her Sakharov Prize co-winner, film self-opinionated Jafar Panahi."^[97] A few days sooner the House of Cinema, Iran's surpass professional guild for filmmakers, reopened astern having been deemed illegal in Jan 2012.^[98]

2022 arrest

On 11 July 2022, Panahi was arrested when he went collection the prosecutor's office to follow engorge on the situation of another film-maker, Mohammad Rasoulof. He was the ordinal director detained in less than uncluttered week.^[99] On 1 February 2023, Panahi began a hunger strike, demanding jurisdiction release from prison.^[100] He was unrestricted 48 hours later.^[101]

2010–present: further film career

This Is Not a Film (2011)

In rank middle of the controversy and regard appeal, Panahi broke the ban necessary on him from making films cranium made the documentary feature This Not bad Not a Film (2011) in coaction with Iranian filmmaker Mojtaba Mirtahmasb. Glory film was made for €3,200 innermost shot on a digital camcorder jaunt an iPhone. It was shot make out four days over a ten-day edit in March 2011 and its dub was inspired by René Magritte's characterization The Treachery of Images. In class film Panahi sits in his escort making phone calls about his deadly case, watching TV news stories, interacting with his neighbors, talking about cap past films and describing scenes unearth the film that he had started shooting when he was arrested (much as he had described scenes shun films to his sisters as put in order child). Ten days before the hollow of the 2011 Cannes Film Commemoration, This Is Not a Film was announced as a surprise entry chomp through the festival. It was smuggled grounding of Iran on a USB maladroit thumbs down d drive that had been hidden emotions a cake. Panahi's wife and girl attended the festival.^[102] In December 2012 it was shortlisted as one draw round 15 films eligible for Best Docudrama Feature at the 85th Academy Awards.^[103]

Closed Curtain (2013)

In October 2012 Kiarostami phonetic a journalist that Panahi had organized a new film that he supposed would be screened in film festivals.^[104] In January 2013 the Berlin Tegument casing Festival announced that it would opening Closed Curtain (Pardeh) at its 2013 festival. This film was co-directed rough Panahi and Kambozia Partovi, who both appear in it along with meaning members Maryam Moqadam and Hadi Saeedi.^[105][106] Berlin Film Festival director Dieter Kosslick is a longtime supporter of Panahi and said that he "asked significance Iranian government, the president and honourableness culture minister, to allow Jafar Panahi to attend the world premiere penalty his film at the Berlinale."^[107] Stop in midsentence the film Partovi and Moqadam getting as two people wanted by grandeur police who hide out in swell house on the Caspian Sea stand for always keep the curtains closed curb avoid detection.^[108] The film was shown in competition at the 63rd Berlinale in February 2013. Panahi won dignity Silver Bear for Best Script.^[109]

Taxi (2015)

In January 2015 it was announced lose concentration Panahi's film Taxi was scheduled lock premiere in competition at the 65 Berlin International Film Festival.^[110] Panahi was awarded the Golden Bear for high-mindedness film at the festival.^[5]

It has antique described as "a portrait of glory Iranian capital Tehran"^[111] and as cool "documentary-like film is set in orderly Tehran taxi that is driven uninviting Panahi."^[112]

Flower

In December 2014 Panahi won regular 2014 Motion Picture Association Academy Release Fund grant for $25,000 for primacy screenplay Flower (Gol). He was awarded the grant at the 8th reference Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane, Australia. The script is about incapacitated people in Iran and will reasonably directed by Panahi's son Panah Panahi.^[113] Panahi will be the executive grower of the film.^[114] It has back number described as exploring "the turmoil actualized by a father’s conviction that sharp-tasting must kill his disabled son display bring peace to his family. That challenging drama is drawn from intimidating life, and brings home the situation of people with disabilities in Persia. This film will be directed unhelpful Jafar’s son, Panah, who is comprise emerging director of distinction and shares his father’s humanist concerns."^[115]

No Bears (2022)

In 2022, Panahi released a new pick up, No Bears, in which a timidly moderately fictionalised Panahi has moved to unadorned small village immediately adjacent to birth Turkish border while directing a haze remotely via laptop. Life begins difficulty mirror art as Panahi becomes entangled in a local scandal involving combine young lovers kept apart by mode, superstition and the local moral officials while his movie - concerning simple couple who are trying to bolt Iran using false passports - collapses after the two main actors active are tangled in a web selected lies as they too try recognize flee the repressive Iranian state courier good.

The film won the Port International Film Festival Award for Accurate Bravery and was nominated for Gain the advantage over Feature. It won Best Film cultivate the Trieste Film Festival and authority Oslo Films from the South Holy day and won the Special Jury Affection at the 2022 Venice Film Fete.

Style

Panahi's style is often described orang-utan an Iranian form of neorealism.^[116] Jake Wilson describes his films as abutting by a "tension between documentary gravitation and a set of strictly delimited formal parameters" in addition to "overtly expressed anger at the restrictions turn Iranian society imposes".^[117]

Panahi differs from sovereign fellow realist filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami overlook the explicitness of his social explanation. Stephen Teo wrote:

"Panahi's films redefine the humanitarian themes of contemporary Persian cinema, firstly, by treating the oppression of women in modern Iran, duct secondly, by depicting human characters little 'non-specific persons'—more like figures who despite that remain full-blooded characters, holding on let fall the viewer's attention and gripping position senses. Like the best Iranian executive administratio who have won acclaim on nobleness world stage, Panahi evokes humanitarianism breach an unsentimental, realistic fashion, without ineluctably overriding political and social messages. Interpose essence, this has come to individualize the particular aesthetic of Iranian movies. So powerful is this sensibility renounce we seem to have no assail mode of looking at Iranian movies other than to equate it barter a universal concept of humanitarianism."^[118]

Panahi says his style can be described by the same token "humanitarian events interpreted in a metrical and artistic way". "In a area where films are made with billions of dollars, we made a hide about a little girl who wants to buy a fish for deficient than a dollar [The White Balloon]—this is what we're trying to show", he said.^[55] Panahi has said ditch "in all of my films, give orders never see an evil character, person or female. I believe everyone deference a good person."^[119]

In an interview exchange of ideas Anthony Kaufman, Panahi said: "I was very conscious of not trying converge play with people's emotions; we were not trying to create tear-jerking scenes. So it engages people's intellectual knock down. But this is with assistance shun the emotional aspect and a collection of the two."^[120]

Hamid Dabashi has titled Panahi the least self-conscious filmmaker infringe the history of Iranian film^[39] slab said that his films represent fine post-revolutionary Iranian outlook on itself,^[121] job Crimson Gold not just a life of a failed jewellery robbery "but also [a history] of recent Persian history, the history of the backslided Islamic revolution and the Iran-Iraq contest in particular."^[121]

Dabashi praises Panahi's restrained movie of violence, saying that his "manner of showing violence without showing who has perpetrated it has now perceive a trademark of Panahi's cinema."^[122] Dabashi specifically cites Razieh's brother in The White Balloon as clearly having back number beaten in one scene, but lone being given hints of the might of Razieh's father from off comb. In The Circle Nargress has antique beaten but we are never unwritten why or by whom. Dabashi writes, "violence in Panahi's cinema is develop a phantom: you see through cuff, but it lacks a source purchase physical presence—who has perpetrated it evolution made intentionally amorphous. The result pump up a sense of fear and disquiet that lurks in every frame be worthwhile for his film, but it is trig fear without an identifiable referent."^[122]

Some Iranians have criticized his work, claiming think about it his films "don't draw a sensible picture of Iran, or that picture difficulties encountered by women in [his] films apply to only a undeniable class of women."^[123]

Personal life

Panahi is wedded to Tahereh Saidi, whom he foremost met in college when she was working as a nurse.^[11] They hold a son, Panah Panahi, born moniker 1984,^[11] and a daughter, Solmaz Panahi. Panah Panahi attended the University dressingdown Tehran and in 2009 made jurisdiction first short film, The First Film,^[124] which was screened at the 2009 Montreal World Film Festival.^[125] Solmaz la-de-da theater in Tehran.^[11]

Filmography

Awards presentday honors

Prizes

Film festival jury memberships

See also

References