Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has named Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi as this year’s Asian Filmmaker of the Year in recognition of his contribution to the development of the Asian film industry and culture.

The director has won the top award at all three major international film festivals, receiving the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for It Was Just an Accident, following the Golden Lion at Venice for The Circle (2002) and the Golden Bear in Berlin for Taxi (2015). 

BIFF noted that his work “explores the existence and freedom of individuals living amid censorship and political repression” and that he has continued to make films in secret in Iran, “courageously submitting them to international film festivals despite repeated arrests, custody, detention, travel bans, and a state-imposed filmmaking ban”. 

Panahi commented on the Busan award: “At a time when making films in my country becomes more difficult every day, this recognition reminds me that cinema can still connect us beyond borders, languages and limitations. I not only accept this award in my own name, but also on behalf of all those who, in silence, in exile, or under pressure, continue to create.”

The Asian Filmmaker of the Year will be presented at BIFF’s opening ceremony on September 17 at the Busan Cinema Center. Previous recipients of the honour have included Hirokazu Kore-eda, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Abbas Kiarostami, Tsui Hark, Chow Yun-fat and Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Busan is under-going a series of changes, including introducing a fully fledged competition section for the first time. The festival is taking place September 17-26 at the Busan Cinema Center and other venues across Busan, with the Asian Contents & Film Market running September 20-23 at BEXCO.