Iran has sentenced Palme d'Or-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi to one year in prison and imposed a two-year travel ban, convicting him in absentia for "propaganda activities" against the state, his lawyer said on Monday. Panahi, 65, is currently outside Iran.
Lawyer Mostafa Nili told AFP that the director has also been barred from joining any political or social groups. He said they intend to appeal the ruling but declined to detail the specific allegations behind the "propaganda activities" charge.
Panahi's conviction comes months after he won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for "It Was Just an Accident", a drama following five former inmates as they grapple with the prospect of confronting a man they believe was once their jailer. The win was widely reported by Iranian media at the time, which published his photo in coverage celebrating the award.
The filmmaker had recently toured Los Angeles, New York and Telluride to promote his latest film, which France has submitted as its official selection for the upcoming Academy Awards. The title is considered a strong contender for the Best International Feature shortlist.
Panahi, a central figure in Iranian cinema, has long faced state pressure. His debut feature, "The White Balloon", premiered at Cannes in 1995 and won the award for Best First Feature. He later earned international acclaim across major European festivals, becoming one of Iran's most recognisable cultural voices.
Tensions escalated in 2010, when he was banned from filmmaking and from leaving Iran after supporting anti-government protests and producing films critical of the political climate. Convicted then of "propaganda against the system", he was sentenced to six years in prison but served only two months before being released on bail.
Despite restrictions, Panahi continued to make work that challenged the boundaries imposed on him. In 2011, he managed to send "This Is Not a Film" to Cannes on a flash drive hidden inside a cake. His 2015 feature "Taxi", shot almost entirely inside a car with Panahi himself behind the wheel, further demonstrated his resistance through cinema and went on to win major festival awards.
In 2022, Panahi was arrested again, this time amid protests involving a group of Iranian filmmakers. He was released nearly seven months later, but his case highlighted the continued scrutiny facing artists and media workers in the country.
Iran's cultural sector remains tightly monitored, with filmmakers, journalists and prominent public figures subject to review and potential prosecution for work perceived as critical of the Islamic Republic. Last year, director Mohammad Rasoulof fled Iran to avoid serving a prison sentence on charges of "collusion against national security", underscoring the increasing risks for dissenting voices within the industry.
Panahi's new sentence reinforces the ongoing pressures on Iranian filmmakers whose work engages with political or social realities the state seeks to control. His legal team maintains that they will challenge the verdict, though it remains unclear how the ruling will affect his ability to travel or participate in international film events in the months ahead.
