Panahi was quickly recognized as one of Iran 's most influential filmmakers . His films were often banned in Iran , but he continued to receive international acclaim from film theorists and critics and won numerous awards , including the Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival for '' The Mirror '' ( 1997 ) , the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for '' The Circle '' ( 2000 ) , and the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for '' Offside '' ( 2006 ) . His films are known for their humanistic perspective on life in Iran , often focusing on the hardships of children , the impoverished , and women . Hamid Dabashi has written , " Panahi does not do as he is told — in fact he has made a successful career in not doing as he is told . " After several years of conflict with the Iranian government over the content of his films ( including several short-term arrests ) , Panahi was arrested in March 2010 along with his wife , daughter , and 15 friends , and later charged with propaganda against the Iranian government . Despite support from filmmakers , film organizations , and human rights organizations around the world , in December 2010 Panahi was sentenced to six years in prison and a 20-year ban on directing any movies , writing screenplays , giving interviews with Iranian or foreign media , or leaving the country except for medical treatment or making the Hajj pilgrimage . While awaiting the result of an appeal he made '' This Is Not a Film '' ( 2011 ) , a documentary feature in the form of a video diary . It was smuggled out of Iran on a flash drive hidden inside a cake and shown at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival . In February 2013 the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival showed '' Closed Curtain '' ( '' Pardé '' ) by Panahi and Kambuzia Partovi in competition ; Panahi won the Silver Bear for Best Script . Panahi 's subsequent film '' Taxi '' also premiered in competition at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2015 and won the Golden Bear , the prize awarded for the best film in the festival . In 2018 he won the Cannes film festival Award for Best Screenplay ( tied ) for '' 3 Faces '' ; he was unable to leave Iran to attend the festival , so his daughter , Solmaz Panahi , read his statement and received the award on his behalf
2011 Cannes Film Festival
2011 Cannes Film Festival
Jafar Panahi