Jafar Panahi (born in July 11, 1960) is a representative of Iranian “New Wave.” He is one of the leaders of contemporary Iranian cinema. Panahi’s work, from his first attempts to discuss social issues to his later and braver discussions of taboo topics in Iran are a creative reflection on the nature of cinema and human society, and are imbued with humanity. In 2010, the court in Iran sentenced Jafar Panahi to six years in prison. In addition, according to the sentence, Panahi was banned from making films for 20 years, giving interviews to local and international media outlets, and leaving Iran. Three Faces was his fourth film (after This Is Not a Film, Closed Curtain, and Taxi) shot after his arrest. The director did not attend the premiere due to being banned from leaving Iran. Panahi is a student of Abbas Kiarostami, whose influence is especially clear in Three Faces, reminiscent of such acclaimed masterpieces as The Wind Will Carry Us and Taste of Cherry.

Filmography

• 2026Hijamat — Editor
• 2026Where Are You, Jafar Panahi? — himself, Director
• 2025It Was Just an Accident — Director, Producer, Screenplay, Casting
• 2025The Witness — Writer, Editor
• 2022No Bears — Jafar Panahi, Director, Writer, Producer
• 2021Hit the Road — Producer
• 2021Life — Self, Director, Cinematography, Editor, Producer, Story
• 2021The Year of the Everlasting Storm — Director, Writer, Director of Photography, Executive Producer
• 2020Celles qui chantent — Director
• 2020Hidden — Self, Director, Director of Photography
• 2020The Alien — Editor, Screenplay
• 20183 Faces — Jafar Panahi, Director, Writer, Producer
• 2015A Very Ordinary Citizen — Screenplay
• 2015Taxi — Self, Producer, Screenplay, Director, Music, Director of Photography, Editor, Sound Mixer, Story
• 2013Closed Curtain — Himself, Director, Screenplay, Producer, Editor
• 2011This Is Not a Film — Self, Director, Writer, Director of Photography, Producer, Editor
• 2010The Accordion — Director, Editor, Producer, Writer
• 2009The White Meadows — Editor
• 2007Persian Carpet — Director, Screenplay
• 2007Untying the Knot — Director
• 2006Offside — Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
• 2005Border Café — Editor
• 2005Verdict — Editor
• 2004Friday's Soldiers — Editor
• 2004Journey to the Land of the Traveler
• 2003Crimson Gold — Director, Editor, Producer
• 2000The Circle — Director, Editor, Producer, Idea
• 1997The Mirror — Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
• 1995The White Balloon — Director, Editor, Story, Production Design
• 1994Through the Olive Trees — Panahi (uncredited), Assistant Director
• 1992Akharin emtehan — Director
• 1992The Friend — Director
• 1989The Second Look — Director
• 1988Yarali bashlar — Director

Appearances as themselves (14)

• 2026On the Road with Abbas Kiarostami — Self
• 2026South of Tehran — Self
• 2023And, Towards Happy Alleys — Self
• 2022Jiseok — Self
• 2020Nasrin — Self
• 201676 Minutes and 15 seconds with Abbas Kiarostami — Himself
• C à vous — Self - Guest
• 2008Critic — Self
• 2006Iran: A Cinematographic Revolution — Himself
• 2005Cinema Iran — Self
• Democracy Now! — Self
• The Daily Show — Self - Guest
• 1994Behind the Scenes of 'Under the Olive Trees' — Self
• The Oscars — Self