In Conversation: Jafar Panahi

The Festival is proud to organise an exclusive conversation with this year’s SGIFF Cinema Honorary Award recipient, Jafar Panahi—a pioneering figure in cinema who is renowned for his profound humanistic sensitivity. Panahi’s works capture the trials and tribulations of ordinary Iranians, particularly at a time when artistic expression faces significant challenges.

In this exclusive session, Panahi will reflect on his acclaimed journey in film spanning over three decades. Among others, he will speak about his works featured in the Jafar Panahi In Focus programme, such as Crimson Gold (2003), This Is Not a Film (2011) and The Circle (2000), as well as lesser-known gems like Hidden (2016), The Accordion (2010) and Where Are You, Jafar Panahi? (2016). These films exemplify his signature naturalistic treatment of social themes and his innovative approach to filmmaking. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to gain insights from a master whose work continues to inspire generations of film lovers.

Conducted in Farsi with English translation