Scorsese Calls on Streamers to Champion Iranian Cinema at New York Film Festival
Published Date: 13th Oct, 2025
NEW YORK, NY—Legendary director Martin Scorsese used the stage at the New York Film Festival (NYFF) to make an impassioned appeal to major streaming platforms, urging them to actively promote and curate films from Iranian filmmakers.
Scorsese's remarks came during a joint conversation with revered Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose latest feature, the Palme d'Or-winning It Was Just An Accident, had its U.S. premiere at the festival. Panahi, who has been repeatedly persecuted and banned from filmmaking by the Iranian government, reflected on the severe censorship and the devastating exodus of talent from Iran's vibrant film culture.
"These films would have to be supported," Scorsese insisted, noting the vast content libraries of major services. "Streaming platforms have a lot of room... There's no reason why a Criterion, a Mubi, and Amazon, all of that, couldn't show these films." He stressed that platforms have a responsibility to not just host, but to "curate them a bit" to help audiences discover and understand the political and artistic weight of the works.
Panahi, whose conversation with Scorsese was originally delayed due to visa issues, spoke candidly about the toll of working under a ban that, at one point, lasted 20 years. He explained that filmmakers are forced to dedicate half their energy to simply finding a way to make a film, leaving only a fraction for the creative work itself.
He also acknowledged the "devastating" loss of talent, as many prominent Iranian actors and directors have been forced into exile. Despite the challenges, Panahi expressed his determination to stay in Iran and continue his work, drawing hope from a new generation of young Iranian filmmakers who he says "are not going to accept any censorship whatsoever."
The dialogue between the two celebrated filmmakers was a powerful statement on the resilience of art in the face of state repression, highlighting the crucial role international distributors can play in providing a voice to marginalized artists.
Date: 13th Oct, 2025
