Celebrated Iranian director Jafar Panahi has returned to Tehran, marking a significant moment in his career and for the Iranian film industry. Panahi, who has won awards from Europe’s top three film festivals, was greeted with joy and support from friends at the airport, where he was seen smiling and holding a bouquet of flowers.
Among those welcoming him was fellow Iranian filmmaker Medhi Nadari, who shared the emotional moment on Instagram, calling it "history-making." As Panahi made his way through the airport, supporters shouted the slogan "woman, life, freedom," a rallying cry that emerged during protests in Iran following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022.
Panahi recently made headlines with his acceptance speech at the Cannes Film Festival, where he emphasized the importance of freedom for Iran. He urged his fellow countrymen to unite for their rights, stating, "No one should dare tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, what we should do, or what we should not do."
His film’s success at Cannes has sparked a diplomatic dispute between France and Iran. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot praised the win as a "gesture of resistance against the Iranian regime’s oppression." In response, Iran’s state media reported that a French diplomat was summoned to express Tehran’s formal protest against these remarks, labeling them "insulting and unfounded."
Panahi’s return to Iran fulfills a promise he made while in Cannes. He told reporters, "As soon as I finish my work here I will go back," adding that he is eager to start thinking about his next film. His journey back home is not just a personal milestone but a powerful statement about resilience and the ongoing struggle for freedom in Iran.