Asghar Farhadi tells Sarajevo Film Festival he “doesn’t believe cinema is dying,” ahead of his next film

Asghar Farhadi, the Oscar-winning director of films that include “The Salesman” and “A Separation,” said he does not believe cinema is dying as he received Sarajevo’s most prestigious honor, according to an interview conducted during the Sarajevo Film Festival. Farhadi spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the themes he is confronting in his next project, and about what he described as the need for more than a conflict-focused view of Iran.

In the interview, Farhadi linked his upcoming work to the experience of war while arguing for a broader perspective that places hope and human experience alongside violence. He discussed the cultural life of his home country, saying he wants Iranian audiences and Iranian people to be seen beyond headlines about turmoil, and emphasizing his affection for Iranian culture and the people of Iran.

Farhadi’s remarks were made in the context of the honor he received in Sarajevo. The Hollywood Reporter interview frames the festival recognition as both a professional milestone for the director and a moment for him to speak directly about cinema’s continuing relevance, rather than treating filmmaking as a fading medium.

The director also addressed the relationship between art and the public’s willingness to keep watching stories, saying he loves cinema and does not believe the medium is in decline. In his comments, he pointed to the endurance of audiences and to culture itself as something people can hold onto even when their circumstances are shaped by conflict.

While the interview centers on his worldview and the subject matter of his next film, it does not provide additional, confirmed details in the information provided here about casting, release timing, or production status. The next step for audiences will be to watch for further festival or distributor updates that specify when his new film will enter production or screening cycles.

Sarajevo’s decision to recognize Farhadi with its top honor placed the conversation about war, hope, and cultural identity in a public setting during the festival, underscoring how major film events often function as both industry platforms and cultural forums. Farhadi’s statements, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, further position his next project within a discussion of how filmmaking can engage with hardship without reducing communities to the circumstances that surround them.