TEHRAN / NEW YORK — In a jarring twist of fate, acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, fresh off winning major international prizes, has been handed a one-year prison sentence in absentia by an Iranian court, on charges of “propaganda activities against the system.” Simultaneously, the court imposed a two-year travel ban and barred him from joining any political or social groups.
The verdict landed just as Panahi was receiving accolades in New York: his latest film It Was Just an Accident, which earlier this year won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, was being honoured with three trophies at the annual Gotham Awards. The awards included Best International Feature, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
Panahi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, disclosed the sentence in a post on X, adding that they intend to appeal the ruling. He did not elaborate on the specific acts that led to the “propaganda” charge. The court’s decision further forbids Panahi from leaving Iran for two years and from associating with any political or social organizations.
This is not the first time Panahi, now in his mid-60s, has faced persecution from the Iranian authorities. Over the past two decades, he has been repeatedly jailed, placed under house arrest, banned from filmmaking, and prevented from traveling. Even under such restrictions, he has continued to make films clandestinely. His most recent work, “It Was Just an Accident,” was reportedly shot secretly in Iran, drawing from real stories of fellow prisoners after his release in 2023 following a hunger strike.
The new sentence draws sharp contrast with the celebration unfolding abroad. At the Gotham Awards ceremony, Panahi dedicated his accolades 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.”
The film community and international observers have reacted with dismay. Many see this as yet another example of state suppression of creative voices, even as the world recognizes and celebrates their artistry. The ban on travel and political association raises serious concerns about Panahi’s safety and freedom to return to his homeland.
Even as his film gains momentum, with its submission for the upcoming Academy Awards representing France, and considered a strong contender for Best International Feature, Panahi himself may be risking further repression should he attempt to go back to Iran. For now, his awards-night triumph stands side-by-side with the grim reality of exile and legal peril.