Jafar Panahi
In short
Jafar Panahi is an Iranian filmmaker and actor who is currently in the news after being sentenced in absentia to five years and one month in prison by an Islamic Revolutionary Court. The court has also ordered the seizure of his assets.
Who they are now
He is an acclaimed Iranian director and writer associated with the Iranian New Wave. His work often focuses on neorealism and the lives of marginalised people in contemporary Iran.
Why they are in the news
He is trending because of his recent prison sentence and the seizure of his assets by Iranian authorities.
An example of their work
He directed the 2025 political thriller It Was Just an Accident. This film received an Oscar nomination and brought him significant international recognition.