Jafar Panahi
Biography
Jafar Panahi, born on July 11, 1960, in Mianeh, Iran, is a representative of the Iranian New Wave and a leader of contemporary Iranian cinema. His work features creative reflections on the nature of cinema and human society, ranging from discussions of social issues to taboo topics in Iran. In 2010, an Iranian court sentenced Panahi to six years in prison and banned him from making films for 20 years, giving interviews to local and international media outlets, and leaving Iran. His fourth film shot following the sentence was Three Faces, which followed This Is Not a Film, Closed Curtain, and Taxi. Panahi has 45 known credits in directing and is recognized as a male filmmaker.
Career overview
Jafar Panahi was born on July 11, 1960, in Mianeh, Iran. He is a male director known for his work in cinema, with 45 known credits listed on the Movie Database. He is recognized as a representative of the Iranian New Wave and one of the leaders of contemporary Iranian cinema. His creative work reflects on the nature of cinema and human society, beginning with early discussions of social issues and moving to braver discussions of taboo topics in Iran while remaining imbued with humanity.
In 2010, a court in Iran sentenced Panahi to six years in prison. The sentence also banned him from making films for 20 years, giving interviews to local and international media outlets, and leaving Iran. Despite these restrictions, he continued working and shot several films. Three Faces is noted as his fourth film shot after This Is Not a Film, Closed Curtain, and Taxi.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Jafar Panahi.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Where Are You, Jafar Panahi? (2026) as himself
- Where Are You, Jafar Panahi? (2026) Director
- It Was Just an Accident (2025) Director
- It Was Just an Accident (2025) Producer
- It Was Just an Accident (2025) Screenplay
- It Was Just an Accident (2025) Casting
- The Witness (2025) Writer
- The Witness (2025) Editor
- And, Towards Happy Alleys (2023) as Self
- No Bears (2022) as Jafar Panahi
- No Bears (2022) Director
- No Bears (2022) Writer
- No Bears (2022) Producer
- Jiseok (2022) as Self
- Life (2021) as Self
- Life (2021) Director
- Life (2021) Cinematography
- Life (2021) Editor
- Life (2021) Producer
- Life (2021) Story
- Hit the Road (2021) Producer
- The Year of the Everlasting Storm (2021)
- The Year of the Everlasting Storm (2021) Director
- The Year of the Everlasting Storm (2021) Writer
- The Year of the Everlasting Storm (2021) Director of Photography
- The Year of the Everlasting Storm (2021) Executive Producer
- The Alien (2020) Editor
- The Alien (2020) Screenplay
- Nasrin (2020) as Self
- Celles qui chantent (2020) Director
- Hidden (2020) as Self
- Hidden (2020) Director
- Hidden (2020) Director of Photography
- 3 Faces (2018) as Jafar Panahi
- 3 Faces (2018) Director
- 3 Faces (2018) Writer
- 3 Faces (2018) Producer
- 76 Minutes and 15 seconds with Abbas Kiarostami (2016) as Himself
- A Very Ordinary Citizen (2015) Screenplay
- Taxi (2015) as Self
- Taxi (2015) Producer
- Taxi (2015) Screenplay
- Taxi (2015) Director
- Taxi (2015) Music
- Taxi (2015) Director of Photography
- Taxi (2015) Editor
- Taxi (2015) Sound Mixer
- Taxi (2015) Story
- Closed Curtain (2013) as Himself
- Closed Curtain (2013) Director
- Closed Curtain (2013) Screenplay
- Closed Curtain (2013) Producer
- Closed Curtain (2013) Editor
- This Is Not a Film (2011) as Self
- This Is Not a Film (2011) Director
- This Is Not a Film (2011) Writer
- This Is Not a Film (2011) Director of Photography
- This Is Not a Film (2011) Producer
- This Is Not a Film (2011) Editor
- The Accordion (2010) Director
- The Accordion (2010) Editor
- The Accordion (2010) Producer
- The Accordion (2010) Writer
- C à vous (2009) as Self - Guest
- The White Meadows (2009) Editor
- Critic (2008) as Self
- Persian Carpet (2007) Director
- Persian Carpet (2007) Screenplay
- Untying the Knot (2007) Director
- Offside (2006) Director
- Offside (2006) Writer
- Offside (2006) Producer
- Offside (2006) Editor
- Iran: A Cinematographic Revolution (2006) as Himself
- Cinema Iran (2005) as Self
- Verdict (2005) Editor
- Border Café (2005) Editor
- Friday's Soldiers (2004) Editor
- Journey to the Land of the Traveler (2004)
- Crimson Gold (2003) Director
- Crimson Gold (2003) Editor
- Crimson Gold (2003) Producer
- The Circle (2000) Director
- The Circle (2000) Editor
- The Circle (2000) Producer
- The Circle (2000) Idea
- The Mirror (1997) Director
- The Mirror (1997) Writer
- The Mirror (1997) Producer
- The Mirror (1997) Editor
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- Through the Olive Trees (1995) as Self
- Through the Olive Trees (1995) Assistant Director
- The White Balloon (1995) Director
- The White Balloon (1995) Editor
- The White Balloon (1995) Story
- The White Balloon (1995) Production Design
- Behind the Scenes of 'Under the Olive Trees' (1994) as Self
- Akharin emtehan (1992) Director
- The Friend (1992) Director
- The Second Look (1989) Director
- Yarali bashlar (1988) Director
- The Oscars (1953) as Self