Iranian court sentences Cannes-winning Jafar Panahi to 5yrs in prison

Jafar Panahi, an influential name in world cinema. In 2025, he won the Palme d’Or at the famous Cannes Film Festival. He was also nominated for an Oscar.

But despite being acclaimed worldwide, he has been repeatedly persecuted in his home country of Iran. This time, a court in the country has sentenced him to five years and one month in prison.

Panahi’s lawyer Mostafa Nili told the Iranian newspaper Emtedad that a revolutionary court in Tehran sentenced the 66-year-old filmmaker to five years and one month in prison, along with the confiscation of all his assets and a two-year travel ban.

Jafar Panahi spent long periods of time outside Iran. Despite the risks, he returned to Iran in April of this year. At the time, the country was at war with the United States and Israel.

Panahi’s lawyer, Mustafa Nili, told the media, “Last week my client informed me that his bank accounts had been frozen.” Later, after contacting the Justice Department, they learned that Panahi had been convicted in his absence.