Palme d’Or-winning director Jafar Panahi has scheduled a hearing date in Iran following his appeal against a one-year prison sentence imposed by the Tehran Revolutionary Court. On December 1, 2022, Panahi received the sentence in absentia for purported “propaganda activities against the regime,” along with a two-year travel ban and restrictions on membership in political and social groups.
Panahi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, announced the hearing date will take place on January 4, 2026. Nili did not clarify whether Panahi would attend the proceedings. The filmmaker’s legal troubles come after a significant year in which he won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his film It Was Just an Accident. The film explores the moral dilemmas faced by an ex-political prisoner who kidnaps a man he believes is his torturer, engaging in discussions about whether to kill or forgive him. This narrative has been interpreted as a direct critique of Iran’s authoritarian regime.
Panahi’s history with Iranian authorities is fraught with challenges. He was arrested in 2022 after visiting the prosecutor’s office to inquire about fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, who was detained that same year for his protests. Following his arrest, Panahi was imprisoned in the notorious Evin prison, where he initiated a hunger strike to secure his release. He was finally freed in 2023 after a ruling indicated that the 2010 conviction for anti-government activities, which had never been enforced, could not be acted upon due to procedural delays by the government.
Despite his legal challenges, Panahi has remained active in the film community, promoting It Was Just an Accident at various film festivals. The film has garnered significant acclaim, being nominated for four Golden Globe Awards and winning three Gotham Awards, including best international feature and best director. It is also submitted as France’s entry for the best international feature film category at the upcoming 2026 Academy Awards.
As Panahi prepares for his appeal hearing, the international film community watches closely, reflecting the ongoing struggle for artistic freedom in Iran.
