Jafar Panahi was born in Mianeh, Iran, in 1960. He is one of the most influential and internationally renowned filmmakers of Iranian post-revolutionary cinema. His film career began when he served as assistant director on Abbas Kiarostami's Through the Olive Trees (1994). Panahi's debut feature The White Balloon (1995), which was written by Kiarostami, won the Camera d’Or at Cannes. His most recent film, Offside (2006), won the top prize at the Berlin film festival; it is currently banned in Iran.

Recent articles

In just a few days time, on 11 June, Iran officially begins its 2006 German World Cup adventure. If they triumph and proceed to the knock-out stages, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad himself, has suggested that he would show his support by coming over and watching them play live – a move which has been cautiously frowned upon by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Would Ahmadinejad be banned from attending the World Cup?