The intense mutual admiration of Martin Scorsese and Jafar Panahi was evident today as the American and Iranian directors embraced at length. Panahi bowed to “a god of cinema.” Scorsese challenged streamers to support Iranian filmmakers.

Panahi was in New York for his Cannes Palme d’Or-winning It Was Just An Accident , shot secretly and based on his time in prison. The two sat down for a Q&A rescheduled from last week due to a delay in processing Panahi’s visa. Scorsese asked about the future of Iranian cinema given all the great auteurs who have left the country.

“It was really difficult to bear … All the backbones of Iranian filmmaking are out. I really miss all those films that they could have made in Iran and they never did,” Panahi said through a translator, adding, “I don’t h

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