famous Iranian director Jafar Panahiwho spent almost seven months in an Iranian prison was released on parole today, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHHR), a New York-based NGO, said.

Panahi, whose films have won awards at many European film festivals, he was released two days after the start of the hunger strike. Iranian newspaper Shargh published a photo of him hugging a supporter outside Tehran’s Evin prison.

“It’s amazing, I feel relieved, great joy,” said French producer Michel Alberstadt, who is in charge of distributing his films. “His next battle is to get his sentence overturned. He’s out (from jail), he’s free, it’s great,” he added.