Iran’s rich cinematic history has yielded multiple Oscar wins in recent years for narrative/fictional work, as well as a 2026 nomination in the Best International Feature category for Jafar Panahi’s I

At the Berlin Film Festival, Oscar-nominated director Jafar Panahi declined his long-delayed Golden Bear, using the platform to highlight state violence in Iran alongside other independent Iranian directors.

Jafar Panahi, a prominent independent Iranian filmmaker and regime critic, discusses his professional ban, film financing, and risks in an interview, having been nominated for two Oscars this year.

Joachim Trier's drama won the top accolades, adding to the buzz ahead of the Oscar awards. Iran was also in the spotlight, with director Jafar Panahi decrying the government's brutal crackdown on protest.

Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, visiting London for the first time in 20 years, condemned the Iranian Islamic Republic for “murdering” student protesters in Tehran last month. The director i