In what country was the movie "Offside" shot?

The story behind the answer

The movie Offside was shot in Iran. Directed by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, the 2006 film follows girls who disguise themselves or attempt to enter a stadium to watch a World Cup qualifying match, despite restrictions on women attending men’s football games in Iran at the time.

Panahi filmed much of the movie around Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. Several scenes were captured during the real Iran–Bahrain qualifying match, giving the film an unusually documentary-like atmosphere. Events in the actual game sometimes forced the production to adjust its planned scenes in real time.

The film’s production was politically sensitive. Panahi reportedly submitted a misleading script to obtain permission to film the match, and Offside was banned from theatrical screening in Iran. It nevertheless gained international recognition, winning the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival. The answer refers to the country where it was filmed, not merely the film’s language or production company.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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