Renowned Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi, who took home the Palme d'Or for It Was Just an Accident, at Cannes 2025, has been named the 'Asian Filmmaker of the Year' by the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), for his contribution to the development of the Asian film industry and culture.
Panahi has won the top award at other major international film festivals, including the Golden Lion at Venice for The Circle (2002) and the Golden Bear at the Berlin film festival for Taxi (2015).
It is a major feat for a 65-year-old dissident, who has been banned from making movies by Iranian government. Despite facing travel bans, house arrests and imprisonment in Iran, he has continued to make films, that are serving as an inspiration for many.
As per a report in PTI, BIFF, in their release, shared, "As a towering figure in Iranian cinema, the director has explored the existence and freedom of individuals living amid censorship and political repression. Capturing the political and social contradictions of Iranian society from a countercultural perspective, he has continued to create films in secret, courageously submitting them to international film festivals despite repeated arrests, custody, detention, travel bans, and a stated-imposed filmmaking ban."
Panahi, in his statement, said, "At a time when making films in my country becomes more difficult every day, this recognition reminds me that cinema can still connect us beyond borders, languages, and limitations. He not only accepted the honour in his own name, "but also on behalf of all those who, in silence, in exile, or under pressure, continue to create."
The Taxi director received Locarno’s Golden Leopard for The Mirror in 1997 and Cannes’ screenplay prize for 3 Faces in 2018.
Panahi will be conferred with the prestigious award at the festival’s opening ceremony, which is on September 17, 2025.
Busan International Film Festival 2025 is scheduled to take place from September 17-26. The Asian Contents and Film Market will be held from September 20-23.
