Photo: Kevin Payravi / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Jafar Panahi was born on July 11, 1960 in Mianeh, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran and is credited as a film director, film producer and film editor. That puts Jafar Panahi at 66 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes University of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Awards on record include Sakharov Prize (2012), Caméra d'Or (1995), Golden Leopard (1997) and 5 more. Notable works include The White Balloon, The Circle and This Is Not a Film.
My Take
Panahi is, to me, one of cinema's purest examples of an artist who simply cannot be silenced. Banned from filmmaking in his own country, he kept shooting anyway, smuggling out films made inside a single apartment or from the front seat of a taxi. That stubbornness reframes everything: the Golden Lion and Silver Bears are remarkable, but the Sakharov Prize tells the real story, honoring him as a fighter for freedom rather than just a craftsman. What I admire most is how his work pairs that defiance with tenderness, as in The White Balloon's child's-eye gaze. He is proof that necessity, not budget, makes the truest films.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Jafar Panahi
- Name (Japanese)
- ジャファール・パナヒ
- Reading
- じゃふぁーる・ぱなひ
- Born
- July 11, 1960 (age 66)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Rat
- Origin
- Mianeh, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran
- Occupation
- film director / film producer / film editor / screenwriter / actor
2. Background
- University
- University of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
Awards & achievements
- 2012 Sakharov Prize
- 1995 Caméra d'Or
- 1997 Golden Leopard
- 2000 Golden Lion
- 2003 Un Certain Regard
- 2006 Silver Bear
- 2011 Carrosse d'or
- 2013 Silver Bear for Best Screenplay
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The White Balloon | — | |
| Notable work | The Circle | — | |
| Notable work | This Is Not a Film | — | |
| Notable work | Taxi | — | |
| Notable work | It Was Just an Accident | — |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Jafar Panahi born?
Born July 11, 1960 (age 66).
Where is Jafar Panahi from?
Jafar Panahi is from Mianeh, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran.
What does Jafar Panahi do?
Jafar Panahi works as film director, film producer, film editor, screenwriter, actor.
What is Jafar Panahi known for?
Notable works include The White Balloon, The Circle, This Is Not a Film.
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