Jafar Panahi Defies Exile, Continues Filmmaking in Iran

In October 2025, acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi sat down with legendary director Martin Scorsese at the New York Film Festival to discuss Panahi's career and his latest film, "It Was Just an Accident." The conversation took place just months after Panahi was released from a several-month incarceration in 2023 for criticizing the Iranian government.

Despite the ongoing challenges he has faced, including a 20-year ban on filmmaking, Panahi remains committed to working in Iran. He spoke about the waves of forced migration that have seen many of his contemporaries, such as Bahman Ghobadi and Mohammad Rasoulof, leave the country. However, Panahi said he does not have the courage or ability to leave Iran himself.

Panahi expressed optimism about the new generation of Iranian filmmakers who are continuing to make films clandestinely, defying censorship. He noted that these young filmmakers are now being taken seriously within the Iranian film community, a shift from the past. Scorsese echoed Panahi's sentiments, emphasizing the need for international distribution and platforms to support these emerging voices.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Panahi's latest film, which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, was inspired by his own experiences in prison. The filmmaker remains determined to continue his work, even as he and his peers have faced exile and imprisonment. Scorsese and Panahi's conversation, which ended with a long hug on stage, was met with a standing ovation, underscoring the importance of Panahi's resilience and the power of Iranian cinema.