This should be the crowning moment of Jafar Panahi’s career.
The veteran director’s latest film, “It Was Just an Accident,” is in heavy rotation among awards ceremonies.
To date, the film has earned four Golden Globes nominations, including Best Drama, a Best International Feature award at the Gotham Awards and the Palme d’Or at Cannes earlier this year.
It’s also shortlisted for a Best International Film Oscar.
The Iranian director has more important matters top of mind. His fellow countrymen are attempting to topple their homeland’s rulers, a dictatorial squad responsible for countless deaths and cultural destruction.
So far, Iranian officials have killed thousands of protesters. The death count will likely keep rising. He said as much while accepting an award for Best International Film from the National Board of Review.
“The Islamic Republic has caused a bloodbath to delay its collapse. Bodies are piling up on bodies and those who have survived are searching for signs of their loved ones through mountains of corpses,” Panahi said. “This is no longer a metaphor. This is not a story. This is not a film. This is a reality ridden with bullets, day after day.”
Panahi later told the audience why his industry must speak out, and soon.
“In accepting this award I consider it my duty to call on artists and members of the global film community to speak out and not remain silent. Use any voice and any platform you have. Call on your governments to confront this human catastrophe rather than turn a blind eye. Do not let blood dry in the darkness of amnesia,” Panahi said in his NBR speech. “Today, cinema has the power to stand by defenseless people. Let us stand by them.”
So far, very few artists have heeded his advice.
J.K. Rowling has spoken out repeatedly about the Iranian protests. Pop singer Pink has done something similar.
And, just recently, Madonna weighed in on the matter.
Madonna speaking up for Iran, while so many of her colleagues remain silence.
Thank you for the moral courage! #FreeIran pic.twitter.com/sPk1TK8IFQ
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) January 15, 2026
Where is the rest of Hollywood, Inc.? The community was collectively silent at Sunday’s Golden Globes telecast. Expect that silence to continue.
The post Iranian Filmmaker Calls Out Hollywood’s Silence on Protests appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.
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