"Closed Curtain" was announced as being selected to screen in competition of the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival on January 11, 2013. Festival director Dieter Kosslick is a long time supporter of Panahi and said that he "asked the Iranian government, the president and the culture minister, to allow Jafar Panahi to attend the world premiere of his film at the Berlinale." The film premiered at the festival on February 12, 2013 and later won the Silver Bear for Best Script.