Panahi, who has been banned from making movies by the Iranian government, shot the film in secret. It takes place entirely in a taxi cab, with Panahi himself playing the driver, picking up oddball passengers on the streets of Tehran, according to Hollywood Reporter.
Panahi's niece Hana, who appears in the film, tearfully accepted the trophy on his behalf. The filmmaker is banned from leaving Iran.
Panahi is a Berlin favourite, having won a Silver Bear for best screenplay for 'Closed Curtain' in 2013, another film the director shot in secret, and winning Berlin's runner-up Silver Bear Grand Jury prize in 2006 for 'Offside'.