It went on to win four prizes in Iran at the Isfahan Film Festival for Children and Young Adults and at the Fajr International Film Festival . For several years after its release , Kanoon 's Channel 2 would broadcast the film every year on New Year 's Day . Outside of Iran '' The White Balloon '' received excellent reviews and was shown at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival , where it won the Camera d'Or . It also won the Golden Award of the Governor of Tokyo for Best Film and the Bronze Dragon for Best Film of Young Cinema at the 1995 Tokyo International Film Festival , the International Jury Award at the 1995 São Paulo International Film Festival and the Best Film Award at the 1996 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival . It was Iran 's official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 68th Academy Awards ; however , the Iranian government asked the Academy to withdraw the film after Iran 's relations with the US began to deteriorate . The Academy refused to withdraw the film , which was not nominated , and Panahi was forbidden by the Iranian government to travel to the Sundance Film Festival or to participate in phone interviews with US reporters to promote the film
Fajr International Film Festival
Fajr International Film Festival
Jafar Panahi