The Carrosse d’or* (Golden Coach) Prize is a tribute by directors of the SRF to one of their own, chosen from the international filmmaking community for the innovative qualities, courage and independent-mindedness of his or her work.

Since its creation in 2002, this prize has been given to Jacques Rozier, Clint Eastwood, Nanni Moretti, Sembene Ousmane, David Cronenberg, Alain Cavalier, Jim Jarmusch and Naomie Kawasé in 2009.

The Carrosse d'Or is a bronze statuette inspired by the figures of the Comedia dell'Arte  and Jean Renoir's film of the same name –  it was created by painter-sculptor Lili Legouvello.

In 2011, the “Carrosse d’or,” sponsored for the 10th consecutive year by Canal+, will be awarded to Jafar Panahi the celebrated woman auteur-director of the french independant cinema

Awarding the Carrosse d’Or to Jafar Panahi is doubly exceptional.


Firstly it allows us to salute a great filmaker's talent. From the White Balloon to The Accordion and Offside, Jafar Panahi has blurred the borderlines between documentary and fiction to impose a critical yet humanist vision of his country: Iran.

Today, this liberty we admire is imperiled. In December 2010, Jafar Panahi was sentenced to six years in prison, this sentence including « a ban on making films and writing screenplays ». Because they cannot forbid anyone to imagine or think, the censors are taking away his freedom of expression.
 
Because no filmmaker, no author can remain indifferent to the violence of such a decision, the SRF has  promised to break the silence imposed on Panahi, for freedom of expression.