Panahi’s Awards Triumph Overshadowed by a New Prison Sentence
So, let me walk you through this dramatic and emotional moment surrounding one of Iran’s most celebrated filmmakers, Jafar Panahi. It’s a story that feels almost unbelievable — a night of international applause happening at the very same time a new prison sentence is being handed down back home.
Jafar Panahi, now 65, had travelled to New York for the Gotham Awards, where his latest film It Was Just An Accident swept three major prizes, including best director, best screenplay, and best international film. The film itself was shot secretly in Iran, a risky move, but one that Panahi has never shied away from. And while he was onstage accepting those awards, his lawyer revealed that he had just been sentenced in absentia to one year in prison. A travel ban and restrictions on political associations were also part of the ruling, all under charges of “propaganda against the system.”
Also Read:You can imagine the surreal nature of that moment — a filmmaker being applauded for his creative courage abroad, while simultaneously condemned for that very same courage at home. Yet Panahi didn’t mention the sentence during his speeches. Instead, he used his time to honor filmmakers who keep creating under oppressive conditions. He praised those who “keep the camera rolling in silence,” often without resources or protection, driven only by their belief in truth and humanity. His words landed like a quiet but powerful statement of solidarity.
If you know Panahi’s history, this isn’t new territory for him. He has already served previous terms in Iranian prisons, with bans placed on his ability to make films or even leave the country. Despite facing a six-year sentence back in 2022, he was released after seven months following a hunger strike. Even before that, in 2010, he was given another six-year sentence and a 20-year ban on filmmaking. Yet he continued to work underground, even smuggling out footage on a USB stick hidden inside a cake box.
His new film, which follows a group of former prisoners confronting the man they believe tortured them, has been described as a sharp and slow-burning indictment of abusive power. Many believe it is inspired by his own experiences behind bars and the stories of fellow detainees. And with its growing recognition — from Cannes to the Oscars conversation — the film is proving to be yet another bold chapter in Panahi’s ongoing defiance.
Even with all of this, Panahi has said he intends to return to Iran. He told an elderly exile he met in Los Angeles that he simply cannot live anywhere else. And when she begged him not to go back, he replied that officials had already done everything they could to him — so what more was left?
It’s a powerful, complicated story. A man being honored for his art on the world stage while paying the price for that same art at home. And despite everything, he just keeps creating.
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