Jafar Panahi Wins Critics Prize in Berlin

“Taxi”, Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s entry to the Berlinale competition, won the Golden Bear – and the FIPRESCI Award of the Critics. From the motivation: “It is a multilayered tale about everyday life, an original narrative exploration of both human choices and constrained existence. A humane and subtle portrait of a filmmaker and his country, a man and his surroundings and fellow citizens. Above all, this witty, sharp and devious take on freedom of speech encapsulates the struggle of all artists who seek to overcome the restrictions of reality and express their emotions and opinions regardless of censorship or state bans.” See details.

“If Sundance had “Tangerine”, a fêted feature that caused a stir for having been filmed entirely on an iPhone 5S, then the Berlinale Competition has “Taxi”, a street film captured on Jafar Panahi’s dashboard camera.” Julia Cooper reviews the film. She was one of the participants of this-year’s Talent Press workshop. Read her review.