The Iranian director who risked his freedom to make his Oscar-nominated film

Iranian director Jafar Panahi has been making social cinema since the 1990s. His work follows everyday Iranians and their struggles against societal forces. In 2010 the director received a ban on filmmaking from the Iranian government, and in 2022 he was imprisoned after he inquired into a fellow filmmaker’s arrest. Despite being jailed and censored, Panahi has continued to work. His films such as "The Circle,” “Taxi” and “No Bears” have won awards from the top film festivals in the world. 

Now his latest film, “It Was Just an Accident,” has been nominated for two Oscars for best international feature film and best original screenplay. 

The film follows a group of former Iranian political prisoners who kidnap a man they suspect was their torturer, but they aren’t totally sure it’s him. Panahi shot the film in secret in Iran because he didn’t have official government permission to make it. While it is receiving critical acclaim around the world, it’s being repressed in Iran, where the government recently handed Panahi a new prison sentence. 

Today on “Post Reports” Elahe Izadi speaks with Jafar Panahi about how he made “It Was Just an Accident” and why he is planning to return to Iran once his awards campaign is over. 

The two spoke this month, before this week’s Oscar nominations and the most recent escalation of anti-government demonstrations and crackdowns in Iran. 

Today’s show was produced by Lucas Trevor, Joshua Carroll and Sam Bair, who also mixed it. 

It was edited by Elana Gordon and Peter Bresnan, with help from Reena Flores.

Thanks to Neon for movie clips and photos.

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