Panahi

Panahi is a Persian surname. The most widely known bearer is Jafar Panahi, born in 1960, an Iranian film director, screenwriter, and former actor whose work has had a major influence on contemporary Iranian cinema.

Jafar Panahi was born in Mianeh, Iran, and rose to international prominence for a body of work that emphasizes everyday life and social issues in Iran. His early success came with The White Balloon (1995), a child-centered drama that earned international attention for its humane, observational storytelling. He continued to gain recognition with films such as The Circle (2000) and Offside (2006), which are noted for their bold subjects and empathetic portrayal of ordinary people under strict social norms and censorship.

Panahi’s career has also been marked by political tension with Iranian authorities. In 2010 he faced legal action that resulted in a six-year prison sentence and a 20-year ban on directing, writing screenplays, appearing on screen, and leaving the country. He was released on bail, and the restrictions limited his ability to work publicly, though he continued to create work under difficult conditions.

Among his internationally acclaimed works released during periods of restraint is This Is Not a Film (2011), a documentary shot at home and smuggled to festivals, which brought renewed attention to his situation and to questions of artistic freedom. In 2015 his film Taxi premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, underscoring his standing in world cinema despite ongoing restrictions.

Panahi remains a central figure in discussions of censorship, human rights, and the role of the filmmaker in society.