Director, artist, animator, screenwriter, writer

Short Biography:

Masud Panahi is Azerbaijani-German director, artist, animator, screenwriter, and writer, born in 1943 in Zanjan, Iran, and based in Germany since 1979. A graduate of VGIK, he studied under renowned animation masters Ivan Ivanov-Vano and Fyodor Khitruk. He worked at the Azerbaijanfilm studio, trained young animators, and directed award-winning films such as “Why is the Cloud Crying?” and “The Legend of the Maiden Tower”. He is also the author of the Azerbaijani cult classic animated film, “Ms. Beetle and Mr. Mouse” (known as “Tik-Tik Khanim”). In Azerbaijan and Germany, he has contributed to over 60 animated films. A recipient of the Golden Boat Award at the ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival (2018), his recent works include the short animated film Broken peace (2012) and Nargiz (2024). He has been a member of the Azerbaijan Animation Association since 2022.

Extended biography:

Masud Panahi was born on January 10, 1943 in Zanjan, Iran. Writer and poet Abbas Panahi Makulu was his father. In 1946, Panahi moved to Baku with his family.

Panahi graduated from Azim Azimzade Art School in 1966. In 1972, he graduated from the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) and attended there  the courses on directing animation. Masud Panahi took lessons from Ivan Ivanov-Vanoand Fyodor Khitruk, directors of animation cinema.

From 1973 to 1979, he worked as a director and artist of animated films at the Azerbaijanfilm film studio named after Jafar Jabbarli. During those years, he organized several animation courses and trained dozens of animation specialists.

In 1974, at the VII All-Union Festival held in Baku, he was awarded the 1st prize for the Why is the Cloud Crying? In 1979, he was awarded a diploma of participation in the XII All-Union Film Festival held in Ashgabat for the The Legend of the Maiden Tower.

He lives in Germany since 1979. He took part in the filming of about 60 animated films at Berlin Central Television Studio and various animation studios. One of M. Panaсhi’s latest works is the animated film Breaking the Silence (Zerstörter Friede), which was shot in 2012 with the support of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Berlin and tells the story of the tragedy that happened in the city of Khojaly.

In 2018, Masud Panaсhi was awarded the Golden Boat Award of the 1st ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival “for his contribution to Azerbaijan animation”. In 2019, he was the chairperson of the international jury of that festival.

In 2020, Masud Panaсhi’s autobiographical book Rubber Rooster was published in Berlin, Germany.

In 2023, Masud Panahi was awarded a diploma by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Federal Republic of Germany, recognizing and expressing gratitude for his “80th anniversary and continuous efforts for the Azerbaijani community in Germany.” Additionally, in 2023, M. Pənahi’s 80th anniversary was celebrated at the Azerbaijan State Film Fund.

In 2024, with the support of the Cinema Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ARKA), Masud Panahi directed a short animated film titled Nargiz. The film’s main educational goal is to draw attention to minefields and raise children’s awareness of the dangers they pose.

He is a member of Azerbaijan Animation Association since 2022.

Filmography (animated films made in Azerbaijan):

  1. Why is the Сloud Сrying? (1973) – director, set designer, screenwriter
  2. Pyspisa Khanum and Mouse Bey (1974) – director, set designer
  3. One day… (1975) – director, set designer, screenwriter
  4. Claw… Ear… Carpet… Thorn… (1976) – director, set designer
  5. Play, My Saz, Play (1976) – director, set designer
  6. The King and the Servant (1976) – set designer
  7. Rooster (1977) – director, set designer, screenwriter
  8. The Legend of the Maiden Tower (1978) – director
  9. Nargiz (2024) – director, art director, screenwriter

Filmography (animated films made in Germany):

  1. House (1980, short animation film) – director, set designer
  2. The Story of Kitchen Utensils (1981-1982, animated series) – director of 6 series
  3. The Shoe Thief (1982, short animated film) – director, production designer
  4. The Quarrel of Animals in the Zoo (1982-1983, animated series) – director of 7 episodes
  5. Max and Maurice (1983, animated series) – director and set designer of 7 episodes
  6. Cockfight (1984, short animated film) – director, set designer, animator
  7. Cloudy, Blue (1984, short animation film) – director, set designer, animator
  8. Eastern Tales (1985, animated series) – director and set designer of 3 episodes
  9. Invisible Hat (1987-1989, animated series) – director, production designer of 26 episodes
  10. The Last Apple (1989, short animated film) – director, set designer
  11. Grandson of Santa Claus (1989, short animated film) – director, production designer
  12. Donky (1993, animated series) – director, production designer and animator of 1 episode
  13. The Three Musketeers (1994, short animated film) – director
  14. Tobias and His Lion (1999, full-length animated film) – animator
  15. The Little Polar Bear (2001, full-length animated film) – animator
  16. The Little Polar Bear: Lars and the Little Tiger (2002, animated feature) – animator, visual effects
  17. The Little Polar Bear: The Dream of Flying (2003, animated feature) – animator, visual effects
  18. The Little Polar Bear – Nanouk’s Rescue (2003, animated feature) – animator, visual effects
  19. The Little Polar Bear: A Visitor from the South Pole (2004, animated feature) – animator, visual effects
  20. Broken peace (2012, short animation film) – director, set designer