On 26 February 2017 , Farhadi won his second Oscar for Best Foreign Film for '' The Salesman '' at the 89th Academy Awards . '' The Salesman '' had already won the award for the Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival . Following Donald Trump 's executive order barring Iranians from entering the country , Farhadi said he would not attend the 2017 Academy Awards , despite being nominated , and then winning , for the best foreign-language film . He announced that two prominent Iranian Americans , Anousheh Ansari and Firouz Naderi would represent him in the ceremony . Anousheh Ansari is famed for being the first female space tourist and first Iranian in space , and Naderi as director of Solar Systems Exploration at NASA . A few hours before the ceremony , he addressed a group of protesters in London via a video link from Iran . The Mayor of London , Sadiq Khan , screened the movie publicly in Trafalgar Square as a celebration of the city 's diversity . " This solidarity is off to a great start , " he told them . " I hope this movement will continue and spread , for it has within itself the power to stand up to fascism , be victorious in the face of extremism and say no to oppressive political powers everywhere . " After winning the Academy Award for the second time , Farhadi had a prepared statement read by Anousheh Ansari . " I 'm sorry I 'm not with you tonight , " Farhadi 's statement read . " My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of the other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S. Dividing the world into the us and our enemies categories creates fear , a deceitful justification for aggression and war . These wars prevent democracy and human rights in countries which themselves have been victims of aggression . Filmmakers can turn their cameras to capture shared human qualities and break stereotypes of various nationalities and religions . They create empathy between us and others -- an empathy that we need today more than ever . " Prior to the ceremony , all five directors nominated for foreign language film issued a joint statement , obtained by '' USA Today '' , that condemned " the climate of fanaticism and nationalism " in the United States , among other countries . The directors - Farhadi , Maren Ade ( '' Toni Erdmann '' ) , Hannes Holm ( '' A Man Called Ove '' ) , Martin Zandvliet ( '' Land of Mine '' ) and Bentley Dean and Martin Butler ( '' Tanna '' ) - said that no matter which films wins , the Oscar is dedicated to " all the people , artists , journalists and activists who are working to foster unity and understand , and who uphold freedom of expression and human dignity - values whose protection is now more important than ever . " In 2018 , at the Toronto premiere of Everybody Knows , the director shared with '' Ikon London Magazine '' his plans to " Come to London West End with his play " . He said " I know there is a lot of great plays every day . And I wish one day I do a play there . It is not far . It is our plan . " Farhadi 's films present a microcosm of modern Iran and explore the inevitable complications that arise via class , gender , and religious differences . For example , his 2011 film '' A Separation '' portrays various intractable conflicts and arguments that force the characters to reflect on the moral grounds of their own decisions
Cannes Film Festival
2016 Cannes Film Festival
Asghar Farhadi