Mansour Jahani, an independent journalist and Iranian film critic, reported in the German newspaper “Die Welt” that highly acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi returned to Tehran via the Bazargan land border between Turkey and Iran during the “40-day war”.
Hanns-Georg Rodek a senior freelance journalist for the German Newspaper “Die Welt” and a former board spokesperson for the Association of German Film Critics (VdFk) 2008-2012 has examined the state of Iranian cinema in a special report written in German. In this report, he references the perspectives, information, and accounts provided by Mansour Jahani, an independent film journalist, regarding Iran’s cultural landscape during the “40-Day War” and the subsequent period.
Below is an account by independent film journalist Mansour Jahani regarding the horrific and catastrophic incident at the “Shajareh Tayyebeh” school in the city of Minab; the destruction and losses caused by war to mosques, historical and religious sites, infrastructure, and centers for science, medicine, industry, sports, culture, and the arts; as well as the current state of Iranian cinema and, specifically, the damage inflicted upon the Iranian film industry. This article was published in the German Newspaper “Die Welt”.
Severe Damage to Shokoufeh Cinema, One of Iran’s Largest Cinemas
“Shokoufeh” Cinema is located in Tehran’s Shohada Square. It is one of the Iranian capital’s oldest cinemas and, with a capacity of 1,100 seats, ranks among the country’s largest and best-equipped movie theaters. On Sunday, March 1, 2026 the second day of illegal attacks and aggression by the United States and Israel the cinema was struck by two missiles, causing severe damage to the roof of the main auditorium. The control room, administrative offices, audio-visual equipment, projection room, screen, restrooms, and parts of the second auditorium also sustained significant damage, while other sections were completely destroyed and the structure itself suffered extensive damage. The cinema is currently closed.
Jafar Panahi returned to Iran via the Bazargan land border during the war
Following the conclusion of the Oscars ceremony, Jafar Panahi one of Iran’s most prominent figures arrived in Turkey on March 31, 2026, on a flight from Paris to Istanbul; he subsequently returned to Iran via the Bazargan land border due to flight cancellations.
He is a filmmaker who has won top awards at the three major festivals of Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. He had previously been sentenced to a multi-year prison term and a ban on professional activity on charges of “propaganda against the system”. Yet, while awaiting the outcome of his appeal, he continued his filmmaking career; he even managed to secure an exit permit to screen his latest film, “It Was Just an Accident”, at the Cannes Film Festival and to travel to the United States for Oscar-related promotional activities. Panahi had previously emphasized in interviews with the media: “Once my activities abroad and the Oscars ceremony conclude, I will return to Iran as soon as possible. I hold only one passport my country’s passport and I wish to keep it”.
Iranians Value Their Culture More Than Western Nations Do
First and foremost, it must be understood that Iranians place a higher value on their culture, art, heritage, and ancient civilization than Western nations do. U.S. President Donald Trump could not have made a more shameful threat than his vow to “bomb Iran’s 7,000-year-old culture and civilization and send the country back to the Stone Age.”
Numerous cultural institutions sustained serious damage during the 40-day war
Numerous cultural institutions sustained serious damage during the 40-day war. A Jewish synagogue in Tehran was completely destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. The Golestan and Saadabad Palace long-time seats of Iranian monarchs as well as the Shah Abbas Grand Mosque in Isfahan (a World Heritage site), suffered severe damage. The Pasteur Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Iran University of Science and Technology, and Azadi Stadium also sustained serious damage from aerial bombardment.
Damage to Hamoon Theater and the Faculty of Cinema and Theater at Tehran University
On Friday, March 13, 2026, a blast wave struck the Hamoon Theater Hall in Tehran, shattering its roof, doors, and windows. On Monday, March 16, 2026, the Faculty of Cinema and Theater at Tehran University of Art and the Honar Hall one of the few specialized centers for children’s and young adults’ theater sustained damage due to explosions.
Abbas Kiarostami’s home was damaged in an overnight Airstrike
On Monday, March 23, 2026, the home of Abbas Kiarostami whose 1997 Palme d’Or win at the Cannes Film Festival heralded the global rise of Iranian cinema was damaged in an overnight airstrike. Earlier in the war, the Rezvan Studio in Tehran had been destroyed; a team there had been working on a 3D animated film for children, yet despite the damage, they persisted with their work and successfully completed and delivered the film for television broadcast.
Approximately 100 feature films are produced annually in Iranian cinema
Cinema holds a special place among the arts in Iran. About 100 feature films are produced in the country each year a trend that did not cease even during recent conflicts. Iranian cinema has given rise to a unique genre known as “Sacred Defense Cinema”; this genre focuses on the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s and is somewhat reminiscent of Hollywood films centered on the Vietnam War. Works in this genre are patriotic in nature, featuring heroes who are martyrs in the defense of Iran. The themes of these films cover a wide spectrum, ranging from battle scenes to the challenges veterans face upon returning from the war. Over the course of three decades, approximately 200 films in the “Sacred Defense” genre have been produced.
Iranian films have won prestigious global awards
Over the past three decades, Iranian films have secured numerous prestigious international awards, including two Oscars, two Palme d’Or Awards from the Cannes Film Festival in France, three Golden Bear Award from the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, a Golden Lion Award from the Venice International Film Festival in Italy, a Golden Globe Awards, and more.
Iranian Cinema’s Championing of Human Values, Kindness, and Resistance Against Oppression
Iranian directors have developed a unique cinematic style through their work—a cinema that upholds the universal values of humanity, kindness, and resistance against oppression. Iranian films garner acclaim from international festivals, institutions, and film communities for their minimalist approach and aesthetics, as well as for their ability to convey complex issues—and address diverse subjects—without resorting to explicit depiction on screen. One strategy involves addressing the theme of romantic love between adults by viewing it through the innocent eyes of children. Another strategy entails using traditional rural life as a backdrop to examine social issues related to urban living.
Two American Tomahawk missiles claimed the lives of 168 children in Minab
Despite residing abroad, Asghar Farhadi has not formally severed his ties with Iran, even though three of his last five films were produced in the West; he continues to strive for a balance regarding his country’s issues. At the onset of the war, two American Tomahawk missiles struck the “Shajareh Tayyebeh” elementary school in the city of Minab, killing 168 children. At the 79th Cannes International Film Festival (2026), Farhadi spoke of this “catastrophic event”, noting that many innocent people children and civilians alike were killed in attacks targeting Iran.
The House of Cinema Holds Memorial for Innocent Victims and Students from Minab
Iran’s “Khaneh Cinema” (The House of Iranian Cinema) an organization comprising twenty-nine trade guilds and serving as the Iranian equivalent to Western film academies is aligned with independent cinema. Following the tragedy in Minab, the organization joined the wave of protests and held a memorial service for the “innocent victims and students,” attended by all senior members of its board of directors.
Farabi Cinema Foundation Launches Screenwriting Competition in Memory of Minab Children
On Saturday, April 19, 2026, Iran’s Farabi Cinema Foundation issued a call for entries for a screenwriting competition titled “The school I used to go to”, held in memory and honor of the children from the Minab elementary school; film industry professionals and experts actively working in the field of screenwriting were invited to participate.
During the war, 145 cinemas across various Iranian cities resumed operations
Due to wartime conditions, all cinemas in Iran had closed at the onset of the 40-day war specifically on Saturday, February 28, 2026. However, eighteen days later, even as the attacks continued, 145 cinemas across the country resumed operations. Amidst widespread public concern, cinema attendance dropped by half; it was only natural for some audience members to forgo going to the movies, given the more pressing issues at the time.
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