The cinema of Jafar Panahi is often described as Iranian neo-realism. Regardless of how one chooses to categorize his powerful work, the unprecedented humanitarianism of Panahi’s films cannot be denied. Panahi’s cinema is urban, contemporary and rich with the details of human existence. Panahi’s THE CIRCLE won the Golden Lion at the 2000 Venice Film Festival. The unsettling drama about the social dilemma of several modern Iranian women was named FIPRESCI’s "Film of the Year" and appeared on Top 10 lists of critics worldwide.

Panahi debuted with 1995’s THE WHITE BALLOON, Camera d’Or winner at the Cannes Festival. The story of a young girl’s adventures as she seeks to buy a lucky goldfish for New Year, THE WHITE BALLOON marked the emergence of a new cinema talent. Panahi’s 1997 film, THE MIRROR, received the Locarno Festival’s Golden Leopard, and confirmed the young director’s promise. CRIMSON GOLD was selected in Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2003 where it won the Jury Prize. It went on to win a number of best film awards and opened to excellent critical response.

Filmography
1995	THE WHITE BALLOON
1997	THE MIRROR
2000	THE CIRCLE
2003	CRIMSON GOLD
2006	OFFSIDE