Published: April 16, 2026, 04:10 PM
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been named to the 2026 edition of the TIME 100, recognised in the \"Artistes\" category.
His cinema, TIME notes, confronts the realities of life under repression while foregrounding the human cost of political control.
In its citation, TIME highlights Panahi as a filmmaker who has turned restriction into resistance, continuing to make films despite repeated bans, arrests and state-imposed limitations on his work. He continued to produce films-often under severe constraints-earning him global recognition as a leading voice of dissent in contemporary cinema.
His latest film, "It Was Just an Accident", which he shot secretly in Iran, explores the psychological and social toll of prolonged political repression. The film won the Palme d`Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025 and received two Academy Award nominations, further cementing his international stature.
The regime had imposed a one-year prison sentence in absentia, alongside sweeping restrictions on his life and work. His persistence, however, has made him a symbol of artistic resistance worldwide.
He has faced imprisonment and travel bans, yet This year`s Time 100 list, published annually, recognises individuals shaping global politics, culture, science and society. Alongside Panahi in the "Artistes" category are figures from across the global entertainment industry, including Ranbir Kapoor, Benicio del Toro, Dakota Johnson, Noah Wyle, and Jennie Kim, among others.
