Jafar Panahi Wins the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival!

Iranian master director Jafar Panahi visited the 30th Busan International Film Festival with his film 〈It Was Just an Accident〉 (It Was Just an Accident), which won the Palme d'Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, and met with Korean audiences after a long time. The film, which will be released for the first time in the world in Korea on October 1 (Wednesday), begins a revenge drama as 'Vahid', who returned to ordinary life, discovers the man who led him to hell by some sound. Selected for the competition section of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, it received rave reviews such as 'Jafar Panahi's best work' and 'A new world has opened for Jafar Panahi', winning the top prize, the Palme d'Or. With this, Jafar Panahi set a 'triple crown' record by winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, and the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Only four directors in film history have achieved this golden record, and among the currently active directors, Jafar Panahi is the only one.

Director Jafar Panahi received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. After visiting the first Busan International Film Festival with his debut film 〈The White Balloon〉, he has visited Busan several times, but due to the Iranian authorities' travel ban, he was unable to engage in overseas activities for a while. Despite his busy schedule, Jafar Panahi attended the opening ceremony in Busan. The 'Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award' is given annually to the Asian filmmaker or organization that has made the most outstanding contributions to the development of the Asian film industry and culture. He has been banned from filmmaking for 20 years for producing anti-regime films that criticize the political and social oppression of Iranian society. Jafar Panahi expressed his gratitude, saying, "I thank the Busan Film Festival for the award. I feel honored to be part of the first film festival and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Busan Film Festival." He also added, "For the past 30 years, Korea has tirelessly worked and fought for freedom and the freedom of film. This is not the end. We must challenge and move forward for the freedom of expression in filmmaking. I dedicate this award to all independent films on the front lines of that struggle," not forgetting to encourage Korean cinema. At a press conference held the next day at the Busan Cinema Center, he also stated, "Even when I was under house arrest, I stood alone in front of the camera and made films," and revealed his firm resolve as a filmmaker, saying, "No one can stop filmmaking. Filmmakers will always find a way to convey their message."