Director

Jafar Panahi

1960

Who they are

Born: 11 July 1960, Mianeh, Iran
Known for: The White Balloon, The Circle, This Is Not a Film

Jafar Panahi is an Iranian director and a leading figure of the Iranian New Wave, and a student of Abbas Kiarostami. His films explore social constraints, especially on women, with humanist realism. After a 2010 sentence and filmmaking ban, he kept making films in defiance of it, often in secret.

Where to start

The White Balloon (1995)In the library
His acclaimed debut feature, a child's-eye story that launched his international career.
The Circle (2000)Log in to add it to the library
A bold portrait of women's lives in Iran that banned at home but won Venice's top prize.
This Is Not a Film (2011)Log in to add it to the library
Made under house arrest and smuggled out of Iran, it became a landmark of defiant cinema.
Taxi (2015)Log in to add it to the library
Panahi drives a Tehran cab, filming passengers in a playful, daring work of resistance.
It Was Just an Accident (2025)Full guide
A late-career triumph that won him the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Their films in the library

Awards

1995 Caméra d'Or, Cannes (The White Balloon)
2000 Golden Lion, Venice (The Circle)
2015 Golden Bear, Berlin (Taxi)
2018 Best Screenplay, Cannes (3 Faces, shared)
2025 Palme d'Or, Cannes (It Was Just an Accident)

The full list · 35

1988Yarali bashlarLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1989The Second LookLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1992The FriendLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1992Akharin emtehanLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1994Through the Olive TreesLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Panahi (uncredited)
1994Behind the Scenes of 'Under the Olive Trees'Log in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
1995The White BalloonLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
1997The MirrorLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2000The CircleLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2003Crimson GoldLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2004Journey to the Land of the TravelerLog in to add it to the libraryActor
2005Cinema IranLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2006OffsideLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2006Iran: A Cinematographic RevolutionLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
2007Persian CarpetLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2007Untying the KnotLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2008CriticLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2010The AccordionLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2011This Is Not a FilmLog in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor as Self
2013Closed CurtainLog in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor as Himself
2015TaxiLog in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor as Self
201676 Minutes and 15 seconds with Abbas KiarostamiLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Himself
20183 FacesLog in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor as Jafar Panahi
2020HiddenLog in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor as Self
2020Celles qui chantentLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2020NasrinLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2021The Year of the Everlasting StormLog in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor
2021LifeLog in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor as Self
2022No BearsLog in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor as Jafar Panahi
2022JiseokLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2023And, Towards Happy AlleysLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2025It Was Just an AccidentLog in to add it to the libraryDirector
2026Where Are You, Jafar Panahi?Log in to add it to the libraryDirector · Actor as himself
2026On the Road with Abbas KiarostamiLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self
2026South of TehranLog in to add it to the libraryActor as Self

Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.