Stanford University Interview with Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb

Question and Answer Session with the Filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, October 4, 2016. Jafar Panahi, a prominent Iranian director, writer, and producer, has faced government bans on his films, multiple arrests, and a 20-year prohibition from filmmaking, scriptwriting, giving interviews, or traveling outside Iran. While awaiting his verdict, he collaborated with Mojtaba Mirtahmasb to produce the film 'This Is Not a Film,' illustrating the challenges in contemporary Iranian cinema. Despite significant personal risk, Panahi continues to make films without official permits. Some of his notable works include 'The White Balloon' (1995), 'The Mirror' (2000), 'Offside' (2010), and 'Closed Curtain' (2013). Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, an Iranian filmmaker and graduate of Tehran University of Art, has directed around 30 films, often collaborating with prominent Iranian directors. His films include 'The Flag' (1996), 'First Presence' (1999), 'The River Still Has Fish' (2001), 'Off Beat' (2004), 'Our Times, Our Homes' (co-directed with Hamed Mohammadi Taheri, 2005), 'This Is Not a Film' (in collaboration with and produced by Jafar Panahi, 2011), and 'Six Centuries, Six Years' (2014). This event was part of Stanford University's Iranian Arts Festival.