Radio Atlantic Iran Wants Him Arrested. He's Going Back Anyway.
20 snips
Feb 12, 2026 
Jafar Panahi, an Iranian film director and screenwriter who makes daring films under strict bans, talks about his Oscar‑nominated It Was Just an Accident. He discusses making films in secret, the risks of returning to Iran amid arrests, and why he feels compelled to keep creating despite danger. Short, tense, and defiant.
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Filmmaking As Future Preparation
- Jafar Panahi made his film now to prepare audiences for the future rather than wait until after regime change.
- He wanted viewers to consider whether the cycle of violence will continue or end.
Experiencing Iran's Internet Blackouts Abroad
- Panahi learned of arrests and blackout effects while in Paris during the Oscar campaign and internet shutdowns.
- He lost touch with family and only reconnected after the internet returned, confirming some relatives were unsafe.
Finding Out About A Colleague's Arrest
- Panahi described discovering his co-writer Mehdi's arrest after messages went undelivered and BBC Persian reports.
- Mehdi briefly called family two or three days later for one minute to say he was alive and arrested.