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Award-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi (Persian: جعفر پناهی , born July 11, 1960 in Mianeh, Iran) is recognized by film theorists and critics worldwide as one of the most influential filmmakers in the Iranian New Wave movement.

On March 1st of this year, Panahi was arrested at his home together with his wife, daughter and 15 dinner guests. Although the others have since been released Panahi is still being detained and has not been officially charged with any crime.

The international Facebook group Free Jafar Panahi is planning screenings of some of Panahi’s best known films during the week of April 15th to 21st to show our support. So far there are screenings being booked in Spain, Finland, India, Argentina, Germany, Latvia, Armenia. Toronto Film Scene is proud to co-present this screening with members of the group to add Canada to that list.

As part of this coordinated show of support Toronto will host a screening of Panahi’s 2006 film Offside.  In the film, six Iranian girls defy the law forbidding women from attending sporting events by disguising themselves as boys in order to enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium to watch the 2006 World Cup Asian zone qualifier between Iran and Bahrain. However, their presence is discovered and they are arrested one by one.

Winner of the Silver Bear Award (2006 Berlin International Film Festival) and 2006 Amnesty International Film Award (Ljubljana International Film Festival), the Globe and Mail says, “Offside uses soccer to speak volumes about the gulf between Iran’s religious rulers and its citizens — especially the women.”

The screening will take place at Cynecycle, 129 Spadina Ave (map) on Tuesday, April 20. Tickets are $10.00 Doors open at 7pm. All proceeds from this screening will be donated to Amnesty International.

Many thanks for the kind cooperation of Mongrel Media for making this screening possible.