Latest news with #ItWasJustAnAccident
Euronews
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Iranian Palme d'Or winner Jafar Panahi calls for fall of Tehran regime
After winning Palme d'Or at Cannes for his stunning thriller It Was Just An Accident, one of Iran's most celebrated filmmakers Jafar Panahi has called for the fall of the Tehran regime, against the backdrop of escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Panahi posted a powerful message on Instagram that appears to push for the toppling of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In his impassioned appeal, Panahi urges the United Nations and the international community to "immediately and decisively compel both regimes to cease their military attacks and end the killing of civilians.' The filmmaker, whose current whereabouts remain unknown, goes further: 'The only possible way to escape is the immediate dissolution of this system and the establishment of a people's responsive and democratic government.' Une publication partagée par official jafar panahi (@ While strongly condemning the Israeli aggression, Jafar Panahi takes aim at the Islamic Republic: 'An attack against my homeland, Iran, is unacceptable. Israel has violated the integrity of the country and should be tried as a wartime aggressors before an international tribunal. This position in no way means that we should ignore four decades of mismanagement, corruption, oppression, tyranny and incompetence on the part of the Islamic Republic." He concludes by saying: 'This government has neither the power, will, nor legitimacy required to run the country or manage crises. Staying in this regime means the continued fall and the continuation of the repression.' The 64-year-old dissident director has been imprisoned twice in Iran and banned from filmmaking for his anti-regime stance and 'propaganda against the state'. He spent seven months behind bars in 2022 and 2023 for demonstrating against the imprisonment of his friend and fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof. Panahi has continued to make films in defiance of the repressive authorities and is best known for films like This Is Not a Film, No Bears and Taxi Tehran, which won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2015. After winning the Palme d'Or on 24 May, Panahi returned to Iran, despite the threats against him. As he left the airport, he was greeted by supporters. One person was heard shouting "woman, life, freedom" as Panahi passed through the airport - a phrase that became the slogan for protests that broke out across Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022. Panahi recently travelled to Australia where he won the Sydney Film Festival's top prize on Sunday for It Was Just An Accident. The Palme d'Or winning film, which was inspired by his time in Iranian prison, focuses on a group of former political prisoners who kidnap the man they believe to be their former torturer. In our review of It Was Just An Accident, we said: 'Panahi signs a taut, gripping and utterly engrossing thriller that doubles as an indictment of the Islamist Republic and calls out the sins of state despotism. (...) Not only is it a richly deserved Palme d'Or, the last scene will make your jaw drop to the floor.' Check out our full Culture Catch-Up on Jafar Panahi and the politics of Iranian film. It Was Just An Accident will be released in France on 1 October. Mubi has acquired distribution rights to the film in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Austria, and Neon has bought the rights for North America. Release dates in these territories are TBD. Over the past two decades, the Caspian Sea level has dropped by more than two metres, putting local communities and ecosystems at risk. Scientists predict an even sharper decline in the years ahead. Ecologists point to climate change as a major reason, particularly its impact on the Volga River — which flows through Russia and provides around 85% of the Caspian's inflow. Experts stress the urgent need for regional cooperation, including the long-standing but largely inactive Tehran Convention, created to protect the Caspian environment and promote sustainable use of its resources. In response to the environmental crisis, the Kazakh government is launching the Caspian Sea Research Institute - a key step toward understanding the problem, protecting the endangered Caspian Sea, and preserving the region's fragile ecosystem.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jafar Panahi Urges Swift Conclusion Of Israel-Iran Violence: 'Both Regimes Should Be Condemned'
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has urged the UN and wider international community to help end the current violence between Israeli and Iranian forces in an Instagram post, writing that both regimes must be condemned. Panahi shared the lengthy Instagram post yesterday. The post began with the filmmaker writing, 'An attack on my homeland, Iran, is in no way acceptable. Israel has violated Iran and should be tried in an international court as a war aggressor.' See the full post down below. More from Deadline Iranian National TV Headquarters Hit By Israeli Airstrike During Live Broadcast Networks Return To Special Reports On Iran's Retaliatory Strikes On Israel - Update Biden Blasts Trump Over "False" Claims That Aides Ran Country During His Presidency; Current POTUS Admits He Has No Proof For Allegation - Update The filmmaker continued to write that the start of Israel's military campaign in Iran does not negate the 'four decades of mismanagement, corruption, oppression, tyranny, and incompetence of the Islamic Republic.' 'This government has neither the power, will, nor legitimacy required to run the country or manage crises,' the post continued. 'Staying in this regime means the continued fall, the continuation of the repression, and the continuation of the flock! The only way to escape is the immediate dissolution of this system and initiate a people's responsive and democratic government.' Panahi added that 'Both regimes should be blatantly condemned for their persistence of violence, warfare, and absolute indifference to human dignity.' 'Missile attacks, bombardment of residential areas, and targeted killing of civilians are crimes. Morals, politics, and safety are none of the excuses for these crimes. Continuing this cycle of blood and hate will only bring more instability in the world and an expansion of disaster,' he wrote. The filmmaker ended his post by calling on the UN and the 'world community' to force the two countries to 'immediately halt military attacks and end the killing of civilians.' 'Continuing silence and inaction means participating in crime,' he wrote. After years of simmering tensions, Israel and Iran fell into direct conflict last Friday after Israel launched an aerial attack on Iran. Iran labelled the attacks a declaration of war and responded with its own missile campaign. The two countries continue to trade attacks. Panahi has been the most prominent and consistent artistic voice in Iran against the current regime. In 2010, the Iranian government handed him a six-year prison sentence and a 20-year ban on filmmaking for supporting anti-government protests and creating 'propaganda.' However, the filmmaker has continued to work, creating non-fiction and fiction features like his latest film It Was Just An Accident, which won this year's Palme d'Or. View this post on Instagram A post shared by official jafar panahi (@ Best of Deadline 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
See - Sada Elbalad
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Cannes Film Festival Sets 2026 Date
Yara Sameh The 79th Cannes Film Festival is set to run from May 12-23, 2026. The news comes less than three weeks after its 78th edition concluded, which saw Jafar Panahi's "It Was Just An Accident" win the Palme d'Or, marking a celebrated in-person return to the festival for the Iranian filmmaker, who last attended Cannes 22 years ago. The festival has not announced the dates for its market, which this year took place May 13-21 during the festival (May 13-23). Other winners at the most recent edition included Joachim Trier's "Sentimental Value", which took the Grand Prize, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Wagner Moura who won Best Director and Best Actor respectively for "The Secret Agent", Nadia Melliti who won Best Actress for "La Petite Dernière", and Jean-Pierrer and Luc Dardenne who both won Best Screenplay for "Young Mothers". read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Film Festival Confirms Dates For 2026
The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is set to run from May 12-23, 2026. The festival announced the news via its Instagram page on Wednesday. The news comes less than three weeks after its 78th edition concluded, which saw Jafar Panahi's It Was Just An Accident win the Palme d'Or, marking a celebrated in-person return to the festival for the Iranian filmmaker, who last attended the event 22 years ago. More from Deadline 'Dogma's Triumphant Cannes Return Has Inspired Kevin Smith To Make A "Cannes-Worthy" Sequel: "A Sweet Victory Lap" Doc Talk Podcast: Up Close In Cannes With Bono, Mariska Hargitay, Raoul Peck, Eugene Jarecki And Makers Of Shia LaBeouf Film 'Slauson Rec' Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears Talks 'Pillion' Acting Debut & "Shocking" NSFW Sex Scene With Alexander Skarsgård: "My Jaw Was On The Floor" Cannes has not announced the dates for its market, which last year took place May 13-21 during the festival (May 13-23). Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds
ABC News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Jafar Panahi comes to Sydney Film Festival at the last minute to open Palme-d'Or-winning film It Was Just An Accident
When I was first told that celebrated Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was heading to Sydney for the Australian premiere of his latest film, It Was Just an Accident, it was so hush-hush he wasn't even named. I had to guess it was him from an oblique hint. Why all the secrecy? Because Panahi, a hero of world cinema, has been persecuted by the Iranian government, serving time in prison and under house arrest for daring to shoot his "social" films, as he calls them. Banned at home, they often feature non-professional actors and detail the intricate complexities of life in the theocratic republic. It's only very recently that Panahi has been allowed to leave the country, including to pick up the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d'Or, for It Was Just an Accident in May. It was a tenuous détente, no doubt reached because of the high esteem in which Panahi is held globally. This is why Sydney Film Festival didn't want to risk endangering Panahi by announcing the visit. Instead, he appeared onstage at the State Theatre during the opening night speeches to thunderous applause. Two days later, we sit down together with a translator over coffee at the Park Royal Darling Harbour, to discuss why his thought-provoking films are worth risking his freedom. Panahi is wearing his trademark black, including shades, indoors. "When you are in pain over something and it is tickling at you, you say, 'I must make a movie,'" Panahi says of his inescapable commitment to many causes. "Everything is happening from a simple accident, and then you have a duty of care. You are not separated from your movie." Simple accidents they may be, but Panahi takes these intense moments of personal experience and spins them into intriguing morality plays that rattle the bars holding Iranian citizens back. "The changes I feature are borne out of society," says the filmmaker, who was mentored by Iranian New Wave leading light Abbas Kiarostami. He has long followed the evolution of women's rights in Iran. His third feature, The Circle (2000), addresses access to abortions and sex work. Six years later, his joyous Offside is centred on plucky young women who flout the ban on attending a World Cup qualifying match. The hijab-law-rejecting protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini broke out during Panahi's second, and most recent, stint in prison — this time alongside several fellow political prisoners. It was 2022, with Panahi's self-starring feature, No Bears, debuting at the Venice Film Festival in his absence. "Bits and pieces of the news would come to us, but we really didn't know what the people on the street were experiencing," Panahi says. A strange turn of events would allow him a closer look, when an insect bite sparked a persistent skin problem. "The doctor in jail couldn't really help," Panahi recalls. "I needed to see a specialist. I had to request this for two or three months." Eventually, he was placed in handcuffs and bundled in the back of a van with darkened windows to attend the specialist. "They didn't want me to see anything, but I could, through the front windshield," he notes of his stolen glimpse at the protests. "I could see that the city has already changed." Now, Panahi says he cannot make another film in which all of the women on the street are wearing a hijab. "I would be telling a lie," he says. "What am I supposed to do when the politicians are running behind for 20 years?" Panahi is heartened that audiences worldwide have embraced his portraits of a nation in flux, including the complete celebration of his work at the Sydney Film Festival leading up to the local debut of It Was Just an Accident. It screens alongside all of his previous features in Jafar Panahi: Cinema in Rebellion. The new feature is drawn from Panahi's experience of interrogation, after being held in solitary confinement during his first stretch inside. It poses the question: what would you do if you were confronted with the man you think was your interrogator? Would you demand answers? Show mercy? Or opt for revenge? He says the best part of being free again and able to travel, however risky, is sitting with audiences as they experience the film. "The Iranian government put a distance between us and the viewers," Panahi says. "They didn't allow us to make that connection. But now I can sit with them and see which part of the movie works and which is not OK." After all he has been through, you'd forgive Panahi if he walked away from his home country. But — as with a beautiful moment in No Bears where he, playing a version of himself, stands on the border with Turkey — he has no intention of doing so. "I didn't put my foot on the other side of the border," he says. "I came back. I do not want to exchange my life for anything else. Life in Iran is not difficult for me. Life outside is. I cannot live anywhere else." Editing It Was Just an Accident in France for three months was too long away for Panahi. "Every day I said, 'I cannot survive here. I cannot continue in here. I must go home.'" It Was Just an Accident marks its Australian debut at the Sydney Film Festival on Friday, May 13, alongside a retrospective of Panahi's films.
