Back at Cannes, Iran filmmaker Panahi defies repression

Back in Cannes for the first time in 15 years, dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi spoke to AFP about how he feels “alive” thanks to filmmaking and the danger of continuing to work in the Islamic republic.

Imprisoned twice and until recently subjected to a travel ban, Panahi also said he was not afraid of the consequences of showing “It Was Just an Accident” in Cannes.

The answers have been translated by AFP from the original Persian and edited for clarity:

Q: Your new film “It Was Just…