Jafar Panahi, a renowned Iranian film director, screenwriter, and film editor, was born on July 11, 1960. He is closely associated with the Iranian New Wave film movement. Prior to achieving international recognition, Panahi worked as an assistant director for Abbas Kiarostami and made numerous short films. His feature film debut, The White Balloon, won the Caméra d'Or at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, marking the first major award won by an Iranian film at the prestigious festival.
Panahi's subsequent films garnered widespread acclaim, including the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival for The Mirror, the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for The Circle, and the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for Offside. His films often focus on the humanistic struggles of children, the impoverished, and women in Iran, offering a poignant perspective on life in the country.
Despite facing censorship and arrest in his home country, Panahi continued to receive international recognition and accolades. His defiance in the face of adversity has been noted by film theorists and critics, with Hamid Dabashi stating, "Panahi does not do as he is told - in fact he has made a successful career in not doing as he is told."
In 2010, Panahi was arrested along with his family and friends, and later charged with propaganda against the Iranian government. The charges resulted in a six-year jail sentence and a 20-year ban on directing films, writing screenplays, and engaging in various forms of media communication. Undeterred, Panahi created the documentary feature This Is Not a Film, which was smuggled out of Iran and shown at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Panahi's subsequent films, including Closed Curtain and Taxi, have premiered at major film festivals and received critical acclaim. In 2013, he won the Silver Bear for Best Script at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival, and in 2015, he won the Golden Bear for Taxi at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.
