Jafar Panahi Wins Berlin Film Fest’s Golden Bear for ‘Taxi’

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s drama “Taxi” was awarded the Golden Bear for best film at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday. The award has been hailed as a win for free speech, as the director had been banned by his home country from both filmmaking and traveling abroad.

In the film, a yellow cab drives through Tehran, while its diverse passengers candidly express their views in interviews conducted by the driver (Panahi). His dashboard camera captures the comedy and drama of Iranian society.

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The members of the 2014 International Jury, Darren Aronofsky (President), Daniel Brühl, Bong Joon-ho, Martha De Laurentiis, Claudia Llosa, Audrey Tautou and Matthew Weiner, also awarded the following prizes:

Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize to “El Club” (“The Club”) by Pablo Larraín.

Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize, for a feature film that opens new perspectives, to “Ixcanul” (“Ixcanul Volcano”) by Jayro Bustamante.

Silver Bear for Best Director, Radu Jude for “Aferim”

Ex aequo Silver Bear for Best Director, Malgorzata Szumowska for “Body”

Silver Bear for Best Actres, Charlotte Rampling in “45 Years”

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Silver Bear for Best Actor, Tom Courtenay in “45 Years”

Silver Bear for Best Script, Patricio Guzmán for “El Bóton de Nacár” (“The Pearl Button”)

Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, Sturla Brandth Grøvlen for the camera in “Victoria”

Ex aequo Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, Evgeniy Privin and Sergey Mikhalchuk for the camera in “Pod electricheskimi oblakami” (“Under Electric Clouds”)