This is Not a Film

Monday, January 5 - Thursday, January 8, 2026

Special Events

  • Mon Jan 5 : 

    Extended introduction by director Jafar Panahi at 8:35

SHOWTIMES AT IFC CENTER

Monday, December 5 at 8:35: Extended introduction by director Jafar Panahi

This clandestine documentary, shot partially on an iPhone and smuggled into France in a cake for a last-minute submission to Cannes, depicts the day-to-day life of acclaimed director Jafar Panahi (OFFSIDE, THE CIRCLE) during his house arrest in his Tehran apartment. While appealing his sentence – six years in prison and a 20 year ban from filmmaking – Panahi is seen talking to his family and lawyer on the phone, discussing his plight with Mirtahmasb and reflecting on the meaning of the art of filmmaking.

Screening as part of PANAHI & KIAROSTAMI: TWO MASTERS

See more and save! Get a Panahi & Kiarostami Ticket Pack  ($30 for IFC Center members and $45 for non-members). Ticket packs are good for any three screenings in the series.

  • Country Iran
  • Language Farsi with English subtitles
  • Year 2011
  • Running Time 75 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor Kino Lorber
  • Director Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, Jafar Panahi
  • Cast Jafar Panahi, Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.