Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, whose film “It Was Just an Accident” won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, has been sentenced in absentia to one year in prison by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Court, his lawyer confirmed on Monday, December 1, 2025. The sentence comes as yet another chapter in the acclaimed director’s long-running conflict with Iranian authorities over his provocative cinema that challenges the regime.
Panahi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, announced the sentence includes a two-year travel ban and prohibition from membership of any political or social groups, adding that they would file an appeal. The charges against the 65-year-old filmmaker were that he had engaged in “propaganda activities” against the state, though Nili did not provide detailed elaboration on the specific allegations.
The sentencing occurred while Panahi was in the United States promoting his Cannes-winning film. He attended the Gotham Awards in New York City on Monday evening, where he received three prestigious honors: Best International Feature, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. The timing of Iran’s legal action against him while he celebrated his artistic achievements abroad underscored the stark contrast between international acclaim and domestic persecution that has defined his career.
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Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court Delivers Verdict
Branch 26 of the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court delivered the sentence, a judicial body known for handling cases involving political dissidents, activists, and artists accused of challenging Iran’s Islamic Republic. The court’s decision to sentence Panahi in absentia reflects the Iranian government’s continued efforts to exert control over the filmmaker despite his physical absence from the country.
The one-year prison sentence, combined with the two-year travel ban and prohibition on political and social group membership, represents a coordinated attempt to silence Panahi’s voice and restrict his movements. The travel ban would prevent him from returning to Iran and then leaving again, effectively trapping him in the country if he were to go back. The prohibition on group membership aims to isolate him from collective organizing or advocacy efforts.
Mostafa Nili, Panahi’s attorney, confirmed he would appeal the ruling through Iran’s legal system, though such appeals in cases involving the Revolutionary Court rarely result in overturned verdicts. The lawyer’s announcement on social media platform X brought the sentence to international attention, sparking immediate concern from human rights organizations and the global film community.
Palme d’Or Triumph at Cannes 2025
Jafar Panahi won the Cannes Film Festival’s top prize in May 2025 for “It Was Just an Accident,” a film in which five ex-inmates contemplate whether to exact revenge on a man they believe to be their former jailer. The victory marked the first time an Iranian filmmaker had claimed the Palme d’Or since Abbas Kiarostami’s “Taste of Cherry” in 1997, representing a historic achievement for Iranian cinema.
The film follows Vahid, an auto mechanic played by Vahid Mobasseri, who believes that a customer seeking help with his car is Eghbal, nicknamed “Peg Leg,” the government security officer who tortured him when he was jailed for speaking out for workers’ rights. After kidnapping the man and locking him in a wooden box, Vahid embarks on a journey to confirm the torturer’s identity with other former prisoners, leading to profound questions about justice, revenge, and forgiveness.
Panahi’s appearance at Cannes marked his first attendance at the festival in 15 years, arriving alongside his wife and daughter as well as several cast members. The film received an eight-minute standing ovation at its premiere in the Grand Théâtre Lumière, where Panahi delivered an impassioned speech addressing all Iranians. He called for unity against oppression, stating that the most important thing is the country’s freedom and asserting that no one should dictate what people should wear or how they should live.
Filming “It Was Just an Accident” in Secret
Panahi filmed “It Was Just an Accident” in secret, without a filming permit from the Islamic Republic, and the actresses in the film do not always wear the hijab, which is compulsory for women under the law in Iran. The clandestine production reflected the enormous risks Panahi continues to take to create his art despite official bans and restrictions.
The filmmaker shot the movie following his seven-month imprisonment in Iran’s notorious Evin jail, from which he was released in February 2023 only after going on a hunger strike. During his incarceration, Panahi drew from stories of fellow prisoners, incorporating their experiences of torture and interrogation into the film’s narrative. One former inmate, journalist Kianoush Mahmoudian, even provided guidance to the cast and crew about the intricacies of how torture is inflicted.
Production faced significant challenges beyond the lack of official permission. After police discovered the unauthorized filming, they called in production members for questioning and threatened them against continuing the project. Panahi suspended shooting for about a month before resuming with a much smaller crew to complete only the necessary scenes. The green screen work was shot in Iran, while post-production including mixing and color correction was completed in Paris over three and a half months, where Panahi holds a residency permit.
Gotham Awards Recognition
While Iran’s Revolutionary Court was sentencing him to prison, Jafar Panahi was in New York City receiving three Gotham Awards for “It Was Just an Accident.” Upon accepting the Best Screenplay award, his first honor of the evening, Panahi dedicated the recognition to independent filmmakers working under oppressive conditions worldwide.
“I would like to dedicate the honour of this award to independent filmmakers in Iran and around the world, filmmakers who keep the camera rolling in silence, without support, and at times by risking everything they have, only with their faith in truth and humanity,” Panahi said during his acceptance speech. “I hope that this dedication will be considered a small tribute to all filmmakers who have been deprived of the right to see and to be seen, but continue to create and exist.”
The triple win at the Gotham Awards represented significant momentum for “It Was Just an Accident” in its Oscar campaign. France selected the film as its official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, positioning it as a frontrunner for the shortlist and eventual nomination. The film’s powerful themes, technical excellence, and the extraordinary circumstances of its creation make it a compelling contender for Hollywood’s highest honor.
| Jafar Panahi’s Major Film Festival Wins | Award | Film | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | Caméra d’Or | The White Balloon | 1995 |
| Locarno Film Festival | Golden Leopard | The Mirror | 1997 |
| Venice Film Festival | Golden Lion | The Circle | 2000 |
| Berlin Film Festival | Golden Bear | Taxi | 2015 |
| Cannes Film Festival | Palme d’Or | It Was Just an Accident | 2025 |
A Career Defined by Resistance
Jafar Panahi’s conflict with Iranian authorities stretches back more than two decades. In 2010, he was banned from making movies and from leaving Iran after supporting mass anti-government protests during the Green Revolution in 2009 and making films that critiqued modern Iran. Convicted of “propaganda against the system,” he received a six-year jail sentence, though he served only two months before being released on bail.
The 2010 sentencing also included a 20-year ban on filmmaking and travel, restrictions that Panahi consistently defied through ingenious methods of continuing his work. A year after receiving the filmmaking ban, he dispatched the documentary “This Is Not a Film” to the Cannes Festival on a flash drive reportedly hidden inside a cake. The documentary, shot entirely within his apartment during house arrest, became a powerful testament to artistic resistance.
His 2015 film “Taxi” featured Panahi himself acting as a taxi driver in a movie shot entirely inside a car as it traveled through Tehran streets. The film won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, further establishing Panahi’s reputation for creating compelling cinema despite severe restrictions. Other notable works during his ban period included “Closed Curtain” (2013), “3 Faces” (2018), and “No Bears” (2022), which won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The 2022 Arrest and Seven-Month Imprisonment
On July 11, 2022, Panahi was arrested when he went to the prosecutor’s office to follow up on the situation of fellow filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and Mostafa Aleahmad. He became the third director detained in less than a week, highlighting the Iranian government’s crackdown on artistic dissent during a period of heightened social unrest.
Following his arrest, Iranian authorities reactivated the six-year sentence originally handed down in 2010, sending Panahi to Evin Prison. The facility, located in northwestern Tehran, has long been notorious for housing political prisoners and for allegations of torture and human rights abuses. Panahi spent seven months in Evin under harsh conditions that prompted him to take drastic action.
On February 1, 2023, Panahi began a hunger strike to demand his immediate release. The dramatic protest, which placed his health in jeopardy, lasted 48 hours before authorities relented and freed him. His release came after international pressure from film festivals, human rights organizations, and fellow filmmakers who campaigned for his freedom. The experience in Evin Prison would become the foundation for “It Was Just an Accident,” as Panahi transformed his trauma and the stories of fellow inmates into powerful cinema.
International Support and Recognition
More than 150 Iranian artists and activists, including Crown Prince in exile Reza Pahlavi and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Narges Mohammadi, signed a public statement applauding Panahi as “an outstanding and courageous Iranian filmmaker.” They congratulated his Palme d’Or win as evidence that “committed art and the voice of truth, even amidst the walls of censorship and pressure, can make the world admire these achievements.”
Fellow dissident Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, who also faced imprisonment and fled Iran, called Panahi’s Cannes victory “a powerful blow to the machinery of repression in the Islamic Republic.” The international film community rallied around Panahi, with festival directors, critics, and fellow filmmakers celebrating his achievement while condemning Iran’s continued persecution.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described Panahi’s Palme d’Or win as “a gesture of resistance against the Iranian regime’s oppression,” linking the artistic recognition to broader political struggles. The European Parliament had previously awarded Panahi the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, though he was unable to attend the ceremony due to travel restrictions at the time.
Current Status and Future Plans
Jafar Panahi currently holds a residency permit in France, where he completed post-production on “It Was Just an Accident” and where he can safely reside without fear of immediate arrest. His current location in the United States for awards season campaigning demonstrates his ability to travel internationally despite Iran’s attempts to restrict his movements through legal mechanisms.
Following the Gotham Awards, Panahi was scheduled to attend the Marrakech Film Festival in Morocco on December 4 for a conversation event, then return to Europe to continue promoting his film. The awards season campaign for “It Was Just an Accident” includes screenings, Q&A sessions, and interviews designed to build support for an Oscar nomination.
However, the new prison sentence and travel ban create uncertainty about Panahi’s future. If he were to return to Iran, he would face immediate imprisonment and would be prohibited from leaving the country for at least two years after serving his sentence. The practical effect is that Panahi will likely remain in exile, unable to safely return to his homeland while continuing his work abroad.
The Power of Cinema as Resistance
Jafar Panahi has consistently articulated his belief that filmmakers must push boundaries and resist censorship to protect artistic freedom for future generations. In past interviews, he explained that established filmmakers have a responsibility to challenge restrictions because they cannot be pressured as easily as young directors just starting their careers.
“If we do not stand up to the censors the conditions will be worse for the young filmmakers,” Panahi has said. “This would mean that this cinema would not continue; it would be suppressed and end with the few people who make films now. A cinema can survive if it has new filmmakers and makes new films. If we don’t resist, the path will be blocked for the new filmmaker.”
This philosophy has guided Panahi’s career for more than 20 years, driving him to continue making films despite imprisonment, house arrest, travel bans, and filmmaking prohibitions. His persistence has inspired countless other artists working under authoritarian regimes, demonstrating that creative expression cannot be fully suppressed even by the most repressive governments.
FAQs
Why was Jafar Panahi sentenced to prison in Iran?
Jafar Panahi was sentenced to one year in prison in absentia by Branch 26 of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Court for “propaganda activities” against the state, according to his lawyer Mostafa Nili. The sentence also includes a two-year travel ban and prohibition from membership in political or social groups. His lawyer announced they would file an appeal against the ruling.
What is Jafar Panahi’s film “It Was Just an Accident” about?
“It Was Just an Accident” follows Vahid, an auto mechanic who believes a customer is the government security officer who tortured him in prison. After kidnapping the man, Vahid seeks confirmation from other former prisoners about the torturer’s identity, leading them to confront profound questions about justice, revenge, and forgiveness. The film was shot in secret without Iranian government permission following Panahi’s seven-month imprisonment.
Did Jafar Panahi win the Palme d’Or at Cannes?
Yes, Jafar Panahi won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, in May 2025 for “It Was Just an Accident.” This marked the first time an Iranian filmmaker had won the award since Abbas Kiarostami’s “Taste of Cherry” in 1997. The film received an eight-minute standing ovation at its premiere, and Panahi delivered an emotional speech calling for Iranian unity and freedom.
Where is Jafar Panahi now?
Jafar Panahi is currently in the United States promoting “It Was Just an Accident” during awards season. He attended the Gotham Awards in New York City on December 1, 2025, where he won three awards. He holds a residency permit in France and is scheduled to attend the Marrakech Film Festival in Morocco before returning to Europe. The new prison sentence means he likely cannot safely return to Iran.
What other awards has Jafar Panahi won?
Jafar Panahi has won top prizes at all four major international film festivals: the Caméra d’Or at Cannes for “The White Balloon” (1995), the Golden Leopard at Locarno for “The Mirror” (1997), the Golden Lion at Venice for “The Circle” (2000), the Golden Bear at Berlin for “Taxi” (2015), and the Palme d’Or at Cannes for “It Was Just an Accident” (2025). This makes him one of only four filmmakers to achieve this distinction.
