Washington, Sept. 8 -- Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi at the Toronto International Film Festival appealed for people to pay attention to signs of spreading repression and authoritarianism, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"The truth is I'm little bit scared. I'm seeing things around that are not good signs," said Panahi, accepting a Special Tribute Award at the TIFF fundraising gala.

Panahi is in Toronto for a screening of his Palme d'Or winner 'It Was Just an Accident', a film directly inspired by his time in prison at the prestigious event. Filled with equal parts absurdist humour and rage, the film following five characters who believe they have identified the prosecutor who tortured them during their own detention, but because t...