The Cinema of Iran (

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

: سینمای ایران), also known as the Cinema of

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

, refers to the cinema and film industries in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

which produce a variety of commercial films annually.

ian

art film An art film (or arthouse film) is typically an independent film, aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience. It is "intended to be a serious, artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal", "made primarily f ...

s have garnered international fame and now enjoy a global following. Iranian films are usually written and spoken in the

Persian language Persian (), also known by its endonym Farsi (, ', ), is a Western Iranian language belonging to the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian subdivision of the Indo-European languages. Persian is a pluricentric language predominantly spoken a ...

. Iranian cinema has had many ups and downs. Along with China, Iran has been lauded as one of the best exporters of cinema in the 1990s. Some critics now rank Iran as the world's most important national cinema, artistically, with a significance that invites comparison to

Italian neorealism Italian neorealism ( it, Neorealismo), also known as the Golden Age, is a national film movement characterized by stories set amongst the poor and the working class. They are filmed on location, frequently with non-professional actors. They pri ...

and similar movements in past decades. A range of international film festivals have honoured Iranian cinema in the last twenty years. Many film critics from around the world have praised Iranian cinema as one of the world's most important artistic cinemas.

History

Visual arts in Iran

The earliest examples of visual representations in Iranian history may be traced back to the

bas-relief Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces are bonded to a solid background of the same material. The term '' relief'' is from the Latin verb ''relevo'', to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...

s in

Persepolis , native_name_lang = , alternate_name = , image = Gate of All Nations, Persepolis.jpg , image_size = , alt = , caption = Ruins of the Gate of All Nations, Persepolis. , map = , map_type ...

(c. 500 BC). Bas relief is a method of sculpting which entails carving or etching away the surface of a flat piece of stone or metal. Persepolis was the ritual center of the ancient kingdom of

Achaemenids The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire (; peo, 𐎧𐏁𐏂, , ), also called the First Persian Empire, was an ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Based in Western Asia, it was contemporarily the largest emp ...

and "the figures at Persepolis remain bound by the rules of grammar and syntax of visual language." Iranian visual arts may be said to have peaked about a thousand years later during the

Sassanian The Sasanian () or Sassanid Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians (, ) and also referred to by historians as the Neo-Persian Empire, was the last Iranian empire before the early Muslim conquests of the 7th-8th centuries AD. Named ...

reign. A

from this period in Taq Bostan (western Iran) depicts a complex hunting scene. Similar works from the period have been found to articulate movements and actions in a highly sophisticated manner. It is even possible to see the progenitor of the cinema close-up: a wounded wild pig escaping from the hunting ground, among these works of art. After the conversion from

Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. It has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil within the framework of a monotheisti ...

to Islam; Persian art continued its visual practices. Persian miniatures provide great examples of such continued attempts. The deliberate lack of perspective in Persian miniature enabled the artist to have different plots and sub-plots within the same image space. A very popular form of such art was ''Pardeh Khani''. Another type of art in the same category was ''Naqqali''. Popular dramatic performance arts in Iran, before the advent of cinema, include

Marionette A marionette (; french: marionnette, ) is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings depending on regional variations. A marionette's puppeteer is called a marionettist. Marionettes are operated with the puppeteer hidden or revealed ...

, Saye-bazi (shadow plays), Rouhozi (comical acts), and

Ta'zieh Ta'zieh ( ar, تعزية; fa, تعزیه; ur, ) means comfort, condolence, or expression of grief. It comes from roots ''aza'' (عزو and عزى) which means mourning. Depending on the region, time, occasion, religion, etc. the word can sig ...

. cinema entered into the public realm, but, its cultural and economic capabilities were still unknown. As a consequence, theaters experienced a growing trend at the outset as to reveal economic attractions of cinema. Due to equating him with the Iranian Constitutional Revolutionaries, Mirza Ebrahim Khan Sahhafbashi’s Kinetoscopes corridor didn’t last for even a month and was closed, resulting in his leaving Iran. Then, it was the turn of Rousi Khan’s public theater. It, too, didn’t survive for a long time as the public theater was plundered during conflicts between Mohammad Ali Shah and Constitution Revolutionaries and, moreover, he himself fled abroad. After him, it was‘ Ardeshir Khan Armeni’ who introduced the real meaning of running and using cinema, continuing until long after him.

Early Persian cinema

Cinema was only five years old when it came to Persia at the beginning of the 20th century. The first Persian filmmaker was

Mirza Ebrahim Khan Akkas Bashi Mirza Ebrahim Khan Rahmani (Akkas Bashi) (1874–1915) was the royal photographer of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar, the king of Persia. He brought photography to Persia. He later changed his last name to Mossavar-Rahmani. The first Persian film maker ...

, the official photographer of

Muzaffar al-Din Shah Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar ( fa, مظفرالدین شاه قاجار, Mozaffar ad-Din Ŝāh-e Qājār; 23 March 1853 – 3 January 1907), was the fifth shah of Qajar Iran, reigning from 1896 until his death in 1907. He is often credited with t ...

, the King of Persia from 1896–1907. After a visit to Paris in July 1900, Akkas Bashi obtained a camera and filmed the

Shah Shah (; fa, شاه, , ) is a royal title that was historically used by the leading figures of Iranian monarchies.Yarshater, EhsaPersia or Iran, Persian or Farsi, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII no. 1 (1989) It was also used by a variety of ...

's visit to Europe upon the Shah's orders. He is said to have filmed the Shah's private and religious ceremonies, but no copies of such films exist today. A few years after Akkas Bashi started photography,

Khan Baba Motazedi Khan Baba Motazedi ( fa, خان‌بابا معتضدی) (1892– 1986) also known as Khan Baba Khan Motazedi, was an Iranian pioneer within the field of Iranian cinema and motion picture photography. He was the third cinematographer in the coun ...

, another pioneer in Iranian motion picture photography emerged. He shot a considerable amount of newsreel footage during the reign of

Qajar Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...

to the Pahlavi dynasty. The first public screening took place in Tehran in 1904, presented by Mirza Ebrahim Khan Sahaf Bashi. He arranged the screening in the back of his antique shop. In 1905, Sahaf Bashi opened the first movie theater in Cheragh Gaz Avenue in the national capital. In 1909, with

fall Autumn, also known as fall in American English and Canadian English, is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Southe ...

of the

Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar ( fa, محمدعلی شاه قاجار; 21 June 1872 – 5 April 1925, San Remo, Italy), Shah of Iran from 8 January 1907 to 16 July 1909. He was the sixth shah of the Qajar dynasty. Biography Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar ...

heir of

Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar ( fa, مظفرالدین شاه قاجار, Mozaffar ad-Din Ŝāh-e Qājār; 23 March 1853 – 3 January 1907), was the fifth shah of Qajar Iran, reigning from 1896 until his death in 1907. He is often credited with t ...

and the success of the constitutionalists, Russi Khan lost his support. Consequently, his film theatre and photography studios were destroyed by the public. Soon after, other cinema theatres in Tehran closed down. Movie theatres sprang up again in 1912 with the help of Ardeshir Khan, an Armenian-Iranian. In 1904,

Mirza Ebrahim Khan Sahhafbashi Mirza Ebrahim Khan Sahhafbashi ( fa, میرزا ابراهیم خان صحاف‌باشی; c. 1855–1922) was a pioneering Iranian photographer and cinematographer. In 1904, Mirza Ebrahim Khan Sahhafbashi opened the first movie theater in Tehran ...

opened the first movie theater in

Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...

. The cinematographic camera was introduced to Iran in 1929, as yet another tool of modernization. After Mirza Ebrahim Khan, several others like Russi Khan, Ardeshir Khan, and Ali Vakili tried to establish new movie theaters in Tehran. Until the early 1930s, there were little more than 15 theatres in Tehran and 11 in other provinces. In 1925,

Ovanes Ohanian Ovanes Ohanian ( hy, Հովհաննես Օհանյան, fa, اوانس اوهانیانس; October 1896 – September 1960) was an Armenian-Iranian filmmaker, inventor, founder, doctor, scientist with PhD in medicine, film, science and langu ...

, decided to establish the first film school in Iran. Within five years he managed to run the first session of the school under the name "Parvareshgahe Artistiye Cinema".

1930s and 1940s

In 1930 the first Iranian silent film was made by Professor Ovanes Ohanian called ''

Abi and Rabi ''Abi and Rabi'' ( fa, آبی و رابی ''Abi-o-Rabi'') is a 1930 Iranian silent comedy film and also first silent feature film in the history of Iranian cinema directed by Ovanes Ohanian and starring Ovanes Ohanian, Mohammad Khan Zarrabi, ...

''. In 1933 he made his second film titled '' Haji Agha''. Later that year,

Abdolhossein Sepanta Abdolhossein Sepanta ( fa, عبدالحسین سپنتا, 4 June 1907 – 28 March 1969) was an Iranian film director and producer. He made the earliest sound films in the Persian language. He was also a writer and journalist and promoter of lib ...

made the first Iranian

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

, entitled '' Lor Girl'', which was released in 1933 in two Tehran cinemas, Mayak and Sepah. The story of the film was based on a comparison between the state of security in Iran at the end of the Qajar dynasty and during

Reza Shah , , spouse = Maryam Savadkoohi Tadj ol-Molouk Ayromlu (queen consort) Turan Amirsoleimani Esmat Dowlatshahi , issue = Princess Hamdamsaltaneh Princess Shams Mohammad Reza Shah Princess Ashraf Prince Ali Reza Prince Gholam Reza P ...

period. Sepanta would go on to direct movies such as '' Ferdowsi'' (the life story of the most celebrated epic poet of Iran), ''Shirin and Farhad'' (a classic Iranian love story), and ''Black Eyes'' (the story of Nader Shah's invasion of India). In 1937, he directed '' Laili and Majnoon'', an Eastern love story similar to the English story of '' Romeo and Juliet''. The present day Iranian film industry owes much of its progress to two industrious personalities, Esmail Koushan and

Farrokh Ghaffari Farrokh Ghaffari ( fa, فرخ غفاری, 26 February 1922 – 17 December 2006) was an Iranian film director, actor, critic and author. Along with Ebrahim Golestan and Fereydoun Rahnema he was one of the founders of Iran's New Wave film movement ...

. By establishing the first

National Iranian Film Society National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

in 1949 at the Iran Bastan Museum and organizing the first Film Week during which English films were exhibited, Ghaffari laid the foundation for alternative and non-commercial films in Iran. Early Persian directors like

and Esmail Koushan took advantage of the richness of

Persian literature Persian literature ( fa, ادبیات فارسی, Adabiyâte fârsi, ) comprises oral compositions and written texts in the Persian language and is one of the world's oldest literatures. It spans over two-and-a-half millennia. Its sources h ...

and ancient

Persian mythology Persian mythology or Iranian mythology ( Persian:اساطیرشناسی ایرانی) is the body of the myths originally told by ancient Persians and other Iranian peoples, and a genre of Ancient Persian folklore. These stories concern the ori ...

. In their work, they emphasized

ethics Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concer ...

and humanity.

Pre-revolutionary cinema, 1950s–1970s

Post-revolutionary cinema

In the early 1970s, a New Iranian Cinema emerged (''cinema motefävet''). However, following the Revolution in 1979, a few filmmakers and actors went into exile as Khomeini altered the focus in features. Between 1979 and 1985, about 100 features were released. While Khomeini's censorship remained, the small number of features produced focused on sexual display and European influence. In 1982, the annual Fajr Film Festival financed films. Th
Farabi Cinema Foundation
then stepped in to try and reassemble the disorganized cinema. The following year, the government began to provide financial aid. This change in regime encouraged a whole new generation of filmmakers, which included female directors as well. With this, the focus shifted to children overcoming obstacles: true stories, lyrical, mystical drama, real-life problems, documentary footage, etc. Post-revolutionary Iranian cinema has been celebrated in many international forums and festivals for its distinct style, themes, authors, idea of nationhood, and cultural references. Starting With Viva... by

Khosrow Sinai Khosrow Sinai ( fa, خسرو سینایی , 19 January 1941 – 1 August, 2020) was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, composer, poet and scholar. Sinai's work was influenced by documentaries and focused on social and artistic subjects. ...

and followed by many excellent Iranian directors who emerged in the last few decades, such as

Abbas Kiarostami Abbas Kiarostami ( fa, عباس کیارستمی ; 22 June 1940 – 4 July 2016) was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, poet, photographer, and film producer. An active filmmaker from 1970, Kiarostami had been involved in the production of ...

and

Jafar Panahi Jafar Panâhi ( fa, جعفر پناهی, ; born 11 July 1960) is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, and film editor, commonly associated with the Iranian New Wave film movement. After several years of making short films and working as an ass ...

. Kiarostami, who some critics regard as one of the few great directors in the history of cinema, planted Iran firmly on the map of world cinema when he won the

Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

for ''

Taste of Cherry ''Taste of Cherry'' ( fa, طعم گيلاس..., ''Ta’m-e gīlās...'') is a 1997 Iranian minimalist drama film written, produced, edited and directed by Abbas Kiarostami, and starring Homayoun Ershadi as a middle-aged Tehran man, who drives th ...

'' in 1997. The continuous presence of Iranian films in prestigious international festivals such as the

, the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...

, and the Berlin Film Festival attracted world attention to Iranian masterpiece
.
In 2006, six Iranian films, of six different styles, represented Iranian cinema at the Berlin Film Festival. Critics considered this a remarkable event in the history of Iranian cinema. An important step was taken in 1998 when the Iranian government began to fund ethnic cinema. Since then

Iranian Kurdistan Iranian Kurdistan or Eastern Kurdistan ( ku, ڕۆژھەڵاتی کوردستان, translit=Rojhilatê Kurdistanê) is an unofficial name for the parts of northwestern Iran with either a majority or sizable population of Kurds. Geographically, it ...

has seen the rise of numerous filmmakers. In particular, the film industry got momentum in

and the region has seen the emergence of filmmakers such as

Bahman Ghobadi Bahman Ghobadi ( fa, بهمن قبادی; ; born 1 February 1969 in Baneh, Kurdistan province, Iran) is an Iranian Kurdish film director, producer and writer. He belongs to the " new wave" of Iranian cinema. Biography He was born in Baneh, a K ...

, actually the entire Ghobadi family, Ali-Reza Rezai, Khosret Ressoul and many other younger filmmakers. There is also movie-documentary production, often critical of the society in the name of the Islamic revolution ideal, like the films directed by

Mohammedreza Eslamloo Mohammedreza Eslamloo (محمدرضا‌ اسالملو‌) (born in 1947, in Shiraz) graduated in Television and Film from the College of Communications of the University of Texas. He worked for the construction jihad unit and Islamic combatants ...

. By the year 2001 the number of features produced in Iran rose to 87 (from 28, which is the number of films that were produced in 1980, after the fall of the Shah). The most popular genres were melodramas and historical pageants which seldom went to festivals. In 1997, the newly elected president, Mohammed Khatemi, would eventually come to play a role in helping filmmakers achieve a certain degree of artistic freedom.

Important figures

Directors

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

* Abbbas Kiarostami *

Majid Majidi Majid Majidi ( fa, مجید مجیدی, ; born 17 April 1959) is an Iranian film director, producer, and screenwriter, who started his film career as an actor. In his films, Majidi has touched on many themes and genres and has won numerous inte ...

Dariush Mehrjui Dariush Mehrju'i ( fa, داریوش مهرجویی , born 8 December 1939, also spelled as ''Mehrjui'', ''Mehrjoui'', Mehrjooi, and ''Mehrjuyi'') is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, producer, editor and a member of the Iranian Academy of ...

Masoud Kimiai Masoud Kimiai (or Masoud Kimiaei, fa, مسعود کیمیایی, born 29 July 1941) is an Iranian director, screenwriter and producer. Biography Kimiai started his career as an assistant director and made his debut, ''Come Stranger'', in 1 ...

* Ali Hatami *

Nasser Taghvai Nasser Taghvai ( fa, ناصر تقوایی, also romanized as Nāser Taghvā'i and Nāser Taqvāyi; born 10 July 1941) is an Iranian film director and screenwriter. Biography Taghvāi was born in Abadan. After early experiences as a story writer ...

Mohammad Rasoulof Mohammad Rasoulof ( fa, محمد رسول‌اف; born 16 November 1972) is an Iranian independent filmmaker. He is known for several award-winning films, including his first, ''The Twilight'' (2002); '' Iron Island'' (2005); ''Manuscripts Don' ...

Bahram Beyzai Bahrām Beyzāêi (also spelt Beizāi, Beyzāêi, fa, بهرام بیضائی; born 26 December 1938) is an Iranian playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, film editor, and '' ostād'' ("master") of Persian letters, arts and Iranian studie ...

Mohsen Makhmalbaf Mohsen Makhmalbaf ( fa, محسن مخملباف, ''Mohsen Makhmalbaaf''; born May 29, 1957) is an Iranian film director, writer, film editor, and producer. He has made more than 20 feature films, won some 50 awards and been a juror in more than 1 ...

* Rakhshan Banietemad *

Samira Makhmalbaf Samira Makhmalbaf ( fa, سمیرا مخملباف, ''Samira Makhmalbaaf'') (born 15 February 1980) Filmography Awards and nominations * "Sutherland Trophy", London Film Festival (1998), UK. * "Special Mention, Official Jury", Locarno Fi ...

Reza Mirkarimi Reza Mirkarimi ( fa, رضا میرکریمی; born 27 January 1967) is an Iran, Iranian screenwriter and film director. He was also Secretary of the International Film Festival of the Fajr Film Festival. Career He graduated from Fine Arts Univ ...

* Saeed Roustaee *

Narges Abyar Narges Abyar ( fa, نرگس آبیار, born 8 August 1970) is an Iranian film director, author and screenwriter, best known for directing '' Track 143'', ''Breath'', and ''When the Moon Was Full''. The film Track 143 is adapted from Abyar's novel ...

Pouran Derakhshandeh Pourān Derakh'shandeh ( fa, پوران درخشنده) (born 27 March 1951 in Kermanshah, Iran) is an Iranian film director, producer, screen writer, and researcher. Career Derakh'shandeh graduated in film directing in 1975 from Advanced School ...

* Manijeh Hekmat *

Vahid Jalilvand Vahid Jalilvand (Persian: وحید جلیلوند; born March 11, 1976) is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, actor and editor. He has won the Crystal Simorgh for Best First Director and Best First Film at the 33rd Fajr Film Festival and th ...

Mani Haghighi Mani Haghighi ( fa, مانی حقیقی; born 4 May 1969) is an Iranian film director, writer, film producer and actor. Haghighi started making movies in 2001. Early life and education Haghighi was born in Tehran, the son of the translator and ...

Ebrahim Hatamikia Ibrahim (also spelled Ibraheem) ( ar, إبراهيم, ) is the Arabic name of the prophet and patriarch Abraham and one of Allah's messengers in the Quran. It is a common first name and surname among Muslims and Arab Christians, a cognate of t ...

* Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian * Marzieh Boroumand *

Houman Seyyedi Houman Seyyedi ( fa, هومن سيدی , born November 29, 1980) is an Iranian actor, director, screenwriter and editor. He has received various accolades, including six Crystal Simorghs–making him the only director to have three wins in Spec ...

Actors

* Khosrow Shakibai *

Ezzatolah Entezami Ezzatolah Entezami ( fa, عزت‌الله انتظامی, 21 June 1924 – 17 August 2018) was an Iranian actor. Career Ezzatolah Entezami started his career on stage in 1941 and graduated from theatre and cinema school in Hanover, Germany in ...

* Ali Nassirian * Behrouz Vosoughi *

Jamshid Mashayekhi Jamshid Mashayekhi ( fa, جمشید مشایخی , November 26, 1934 – April 2, 2019) was an Iranian actor. Career Mashayekhi began professional acting on stage in 1957. His first feature film role was ''Brick and Mirror ''(1965, Ebrahim Golest ...

Davoud Rashidi Davoud Rashidi ( fa, داوود رشیدی; July 16, 1933 – August 26, 2016) was an Iranian actor. His daughter, Leili Rashidi, is also an actress. Career His first film was ''Escape from the Trap'' (1971, Jalal Moghadam) after years of stage ...

* Naser Malek Motiee *

Shahab Hosseini Seyyed Shahabedin Hosseini Tonekaboni ( fa, سید شهاب الدین حسینی تنکابنی; born February 3, 1974) is an Iranian actor, producer and director. He is known for his collaborations with Iranian Academy Award-winning director ...

* Parviz Parastouee *

Faramarz Gharibian Faramarz Gharibian ( fa, فرامرز قریبیان; born 18 November 1941) is an Iranian retired actor. He won three Crystal Simorgh Awards for his performances in ''The Train'' (1988), ''Misty Harbour'' (1992), and ''The Rain Man'' (1998). C ...

Homayoun Ershadi Homayoun Ershadi (also spelled Homayon Ershadi, fa, همایون ارشادی ; born March 26, 1947) is an Iranian actor, known for his debut role in '' Taste of Cherry'' (1997), and several Iranian and other films since then, including Hollywo ...

* Hamed Behdad * Amin Hayaee *

Reza Naji Reza Naji is an Iranian actor and an iconic figure of Iranian cinema. Naji started his career in theater when he was a teenager. While serving in the Iranian army, he continued to perform in different roles. His first role in a film goes back to ...

Reza Attaran Reza Attaran (Persian: رضا عطاران, born May 10, 1968) is an Iranian actor, director, screenwriter and singer. He has received various accolades, including three Crystal Cymorgh, five Hafez Awards Hafez Awards is an annual awards cer ...

* Mohsen Tanabandeh *

Navid Mohammadzadeh Navid Mohammadzadeh ( fa, نوید محمدزاده, born April 6, 1986) is an Iranian actor. He has received various accolades, including two Crystal Simorgh, four Hafez Awards, three Iran Cinema Celebration Awards and four Iran's Film Critics a ...

Payman Maadi Payman Maadi ( fa, پیمان معادی; born 1972), also known as Peyman Moadi, is an Iranian American actor, screenwriter and director. He is best known for starring in the films ''A Separation'' (2011) and '' About Elly'' (2009) by Iranian ...

Babak Karimi Babak Karimi ( fa, بابک کریمی, born 1960) is a Czech-Iranian actor. For his role in ''A Separation'', he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival in 2011. Filmography Film * ''Tickets'' (2 ...

* Dariush Farhang * Amin Tarokh *

Jamshid Hashempour Jamshid Hashempour ( fa, جمشید هاشم‌پور; born March 23, 1944), birth name Jamshid Arya (), is an Iranian actor. Jamshid Hashempour has starred in action and thriller movies and has performed in more than 80 films. Filmography * ''Da ...

* Akbar Abdi * Abolfazl Pourarab *

Mohammad Ali Fardin Mohammad-Ali Fardin ( fa, محمدعلی فردین, 4 February 1931 – 6 April 2000) was a prominent Iranian actor, film director and freestyle wrestler. Biography Early life Fardin was born and raised in a poor area in southern Tehran. He ...

* Mohammad Ali Keshavarz *

Saeed Rad Saeed Raad ( fa, سعید راد; born 1 March 1944; also Romanized as Said Rād and Sa'id Rād) is an Iranian actor and playwright. He started his career in 1967. Rad left Iran in 1986 and lived in Canada but returned in 2000 to continue his ca ...

Rouhollah Zamani Rouhollah Zamani (Persian: روح‌الله زمانی) is an Iranian actor, known for his performance in the 2020 film '' Sun Children''. Career Zamani rose to prominence for his performance as Ali in the 2020 acclaimed drama film '' Sun Chi ...

* Sirous Gorjestani *

Babak Hamidian Babak Hamidian ( fa, بابک حمیدیان; born 1981) is an Iranian actor. He has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh The Crystal Simorgh ( fa, ‌سیمرغ بلورین) is an award given by Fajr International Film Fest ...

* Amir Jadidi

Actresses

* Susan Taslimi *

Shohreh Aghdashloo Shohreh Aghdashloo ( fa, شهره آغداشلو, ; née Vaziri-Tabar (); 11 May 1952) is an Iranian and American actress. Following numerous starring roles on the stage, she made her film debut in '' Chess of the Wind'' (1976). Her next two fi ...

Zar Amir Ebrahimi Zahra Amir Ebrahimi ( fa, زهرا اميرابراهيمی; born July 9, 1981) known professionally as Zar Amir Ebrahimi (), is an Iranian-French actress, producer and director. She is best known for her performance as journalist Arezoo Rahim ...

Hamideh Kheirabadi Hamideh Kheirabadi ( fa, حمیده خیرآبادی; 21 December 1924 – 19 April 2010) was an Iranian film and theatre actress. She played in more than 200 feature films and in over 20 television series. In Iran, she is affectionately ref ...

Leila Hatami Leila Hatami ( fa, لیلا حاتمی; born October 1, 1972) is an Iranian actress. She has received numerous accolades, including a Silver Bear, two Crystal Simorghs, two Hafez Awards, two Iran Cinema Celebration Awards and three Iran's Film ...

Hedieh Tehrani Hedieh Tehrani ( fa, هديه تهرانی; born June 25, 1972) is an Iranian actress. She is most noted for willingness to play mysterious, stony-faced and cold-hearted women. She has received various accolades, including two Crystal Simorgh, ...

* Taraneh Alidoosti *

Golshifteh Farahani Rahavard Farahani ( fa, رهاورد فراهانی; born 10 July 1983), known professionally as Golshifteh Farahani (), is an Iranian-French actress. She is known for her performances in ''M for Mother'' (2006), '' Body of Lies'' (2008), ''Abo ...

Sareh Bayat Sareh Bayat ( fa, ساره بیات; born 6 October 1979) is an Iranian actress. She is best known for her role as Razieh in the Academy Award-winning ''A Separation'' (2011), for which she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Inte ...

* Gohar Kheirandish * Jamileh Sheikhi *

Farimah Farjami Farimah Farjami ( fa, فریماه فرجامی, born May 8, 1952) is an Iranian actress. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh for ''The Last Act'' (1991). Her acting in films, especially in independent women's dramas, ...

Homa Rousta Homa Rousta ( fa, هما روستا ‎; 26 September 1946 – 26 September 2015) was an Iranian film and stage actress. She was the widow of stage director Hamid Samandarian. She graduated with a degree in theatre from the School of Dram ...

Bita Farahi Bita Lahrakhani Deinabli, better known as Bita Farrahi ( fa, بيتا فرهی , born 21 March 1958 in Tehran) is an Iranian actress. She is one of the most famous and internationally acclaimed actresses in Iran. Career Bita Farrahi studied art ...

Googoosh Faegheh Atashin ( fa, فائقه آتشین; born 5 May 1950), known professionally as Googoosh ( fa, گوگوش, ), is an Iranian singer and former actress. One of the most popular and prolific entertainers in Iran, her career has spanned over ...

* Parvaneh Massoumi *

Golab Adineh Golab Mostaan ( fa, گلاب مستعان; 13 November 1953) known professionally as Golab Adineh, is an Iranian actress. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh, a Hafez Award, an Iran Cinema Celebration Awards and a Gol ...

Niki Karimi Niki Karimi ( fa, نیکی کریمی; born November 10, 1971) is an Iranian actress, director, screenwriter and producer. Regarded as "the most prominent figure among the young generations coming after the Iranian Revolution", she has received v ...

Parinaz Izadyar Parinaz Izadyar ( fa, پریناز ایزدیار, born August 30, 1985) is an Iranian actress. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh and two Hafez Awards. Career Parinaz Izadyar studied graphic design and made her ...

* Elnaz Shakerdoost *

Merila Zarei Merila Zarei ( fa, مریلا زارعی, also Romanized as "Merīlā Zāre'ī"; born April 14, 1974) is an Iranian actress. She is one of the most influential actresses after the Islamic Revolution of Iran, who has acted in the films of great ...

* Pantea Bahram *

Baran Kosari Baran Kosari ( fa, باران کوثری; ; born 16 September 1985) is an Iranian actress. Biography She graduated from ''Soureh academy''. ''The Best Papa of the World'' (1991) is her first acting experience. She had appearances in some of her ...

* Negar Javaherian *

Fereshteh Sadre Orafaee Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy ( fa, فرشته صدرعرفایی, born 29 December 1962) is an Iranian actress. She is best known internationally for her role as Pari in '' The Circle'' (2000), which has won several awards including the Golden Lion ...

* Fatemah Motamed Aria *

Shabnam Moghaddami Shabnam Moghaddami ( fa, شبنم مقدمی, born in 1973) is an Iranian actress. Filmography Film and Television *2012 - ''Laboratory '' *2012 - ''Kissing the Moon-Like Face'' *2009 - ''Ashpaz Bashi'' (TV series) *2008 - ''Farzande khak'' *2 ...

Sara Bahrami Sara Bahrami ( fa, سارا بهرامی; born September 19, 1982) is an Iranian actress. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Cymorgh, an Iran Cinema Celebration Award and an Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association Award. ...

Mahtab Keramati Mahtab Keramati ( fa, مهتاب کرامتی; born 17 October 1970) is an Iranian actress. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh, two Hafez Awards. In August 2006, she was appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Iran. ...

* Katayoun Riahi *

Tannaz Tabatabaee Tannaz (; ) is a feminine given name of Persian origins. People with this name include: * Tannaz Farsi (born 1974), Iranian-born American visual artist and teacher * Tannaz Irani (born 1971), Indian actress * Tannaz Tabatabaei Tannaz Tabatabae ...

Mahnaz Afshar Mahnaz Afshar ( fa, مهناز افشار; born June 10, 1977) is an Iranian actress. She gained wide recognition in the record-breaking film ''Cease Fire'' (2006). She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Cymorgh, two Hafez Awar ...

Hanieh Tavassoli Hanieh Tavassoli ( fa, هانیه توسلی; born June 4, 1979) is an Iranian actress. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh and an Iran Cinema Celebration Award, in addition to nominations for five Hafez Awards and an I ...

Sahar Dolatshahi Sahar Dolatshahi ( fa, سحر دولتشاهی, born October 8, 1979) is an Iranian actress. She is best known for her acting in ''Ice Age'' (2015)'', Istanbul Junction'' (2018)'', The Frog'' (2020–2021) ''and I Want to Live'' (2021–present). ...

Pegah Ahangarani Pegah Ahangarani ( fa, پگاه آهنگرانی; born 24 July 1984) is an Iranian actress and director. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh, a Hafez Award and an Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association Award. ...

Nazanin Boniadi Nazanin Boniadi (; fa, نازنین بنیادی, ; born 22 May 1980) is an Iranian-British actress and activist. Born in Tehran and raised in London, she went to university in the United States, where she landed her first major acting role as ...

Contemporary Iranian cinema

Today, the Iranian box office is dominated by commercial Iranian films. Western films are occasionally shown in movie theaters. and contemporary Hollywood productions are shown on state television. Iranian art films are often not screened officially, and are viewable via unlicensed DVDs which are available. Some of these acclaimed films were screened in Iran and had box office success. Examples include Rassul Sadr Ameli's "I’m Taraneh, 15", Rakhshan Bani-Etemad's "Under the skin of the City", Bahman Ghobadi's "Marooned in Iraq" and Manijeh Hekmat's "Women's Prison".Qantara.de also it might help them - - Iranian Cinema - Beyond Festival Films
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Commercial cinema in Iran

The internationally award-winning cinema of Iran is quite different from the domestically oriented films. The latter caters to an entirely different audience, which is largely under the age of 25. This commercial Iranian cinema genre is largely unknown in the West, as the films are targeted at local audiences. There are Three categories of this type of film: Mohammad Ali Fardin

*Films before the revolution. '' Lor Girl'', '' A Party in Hell'', '' Qeysar'', ''

Dar Emtedade Shab ''Dar Emtedade Shab'' ( fa, در امتداد شب; literally: ''Throughout the Night'') is a 1977 Iranian drama film directed by Parviz Sayyad. It stars Iranian singer Googoosh and actor Saeed Kangarani. Plot Parvaneh (Googoosh), who is a famou ...

'', ''

Amir Arsalan ''Amir Arsalan-e Namdar'' ( fa, امیر ارسلان نامدار) is a popular Persian epic, which was told to Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, the Qajar Shah of Persia in the 19th century (though the Persian legend itself is much older), by a storytel ...

'', and ''

Ganj-e Qarun ''Ganj-e Qarun'' ( fa, گنج قارون) is a 1965 Iranian film directed by Siamak Yasemi and starring Mohammad Ali Fardin, Forouzan and Taqi Zohuri. Background In Persian folklore, ''Ganj-e Qarun'' (Qarun's Treasure) is a symbol of major w ...

''. *Films about the victory of the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the ensuing Iran–Iraq war and Action filled with strong religious and national motifs. ''

Eagles Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, jus ...

'', ''Barzakhiha'', ''The Viper'', ''

Dadshah ''Daadshah'' ( fa, دادشاه, translit=Dādšāh) is a 1983 Iranian Persian-language film depicting the life and experiences of Baloch rebel Dad Shah in the Balochistan insurgency. Plot Mir Dad Shah or Mir Daad Shah was a farmer who lived ...

'', '' Boycott'', '' Duel'', '' Taraj'', ''

Ekhrajiha ''Ekhrajiha'' ( fa, اخراجی‌ها, ''The Outcast'') is a 2007 Iranian film, written and directed by Masoud Dehnamaki, narrating a story during Iran–Iraq War. The film is Dehnamaki's first feature film, after he directed two documentaries ...

'', ''

The Glass Agency ''The Glass Agency'' ( fa, آژانس شیشه‌ای) is a 1998 Iranian drama film written and directed by Ebrahim Hatamikia, and one of his most successful works and one of the most popular and controversial films of post-revolutionary Iranian ...

'', ''Kani Manga'', ''Ofogh'', ''

Bashu, the Little Stranger ''Bashu, the Little Stranger'' ( fa, باشو غریبه کوچک, translit=Bashu, Gharibeye Koochak), is a 1986 Iranian drama film directed by Bahram Beizai. The film was produced in 1986, and was released in 1989. This multi-ethnic film was the ...

'', ''Leily Ba Man Ast'', '' M as in Mother'' and ''

The Night Bus ''The Night Bus'' ( fa, اتوبوس شب; Transliteration: ''Otobus-e Shab'') is a 2007 Iranian film directed by Kiumars Pourahmad. The film, which is in sharp monochrome, relates the story of a twenty-four-hour-long journey of two young Iranian ...

''. *Formulaic films starring popular actors. With 130 Iranian films looking for a screening each year, cinema managers tend to prefer crowd-pleasing comedies, romantic melodramas, and family comedies over the other genres. ''

The Lizard The Lizard ( kw, An Lysardh) is a peninsula in southern Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The most southerly point of the British mainland is near Lizard Point at SW 701115; Lizard village, also known as The Lizard, is the most southerl ...

'', ''The Blue-Veiled'', ''Ghermez'', '' Leila'', ''Outsiders'', ''Char Changooli'', ''

Kolah Ghermezi and Pesar Khaleh ''Kolah Ghermezi and Pesar Khaleh'' ( fa, کلاه‌قرمزی و پسرخاله, translit=Red Hat and Cousin) is a 1995 Iranian film directed by Iraj Tahmasb. The film is about Kolah Ghermezi, a popular puppet character of the early 1990s in Ir ...

'', '' Kolah Ghermezi and Bache Naneh'', ''

Actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

'', '' Ejareh-Nesheenha'', ''Shokaran'', ''

Dayere Zangi ''Dayere Zangi'' ( Tambourine) ( fa, دایره زنگی, romanized: ''Dayereh-e zangi'') is a 2008 Iranian comedy drama film directed by Parisa Bakhtavar and written by Asghar Farhadi. It was released in Iran during the Nowrooz holidays and was ...

'', ''Aquarium'', ''

Cease Fire A ceasefire (also known as a truce or armistice), also spelled cease fire (the antonym of 'open fire'), is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be between state act ...

'', ''No Men Allowed'', ''

The Changed Man , image = The Changed Man Movie Poster.jpeg , image_size = , caption = Film poster , director = Mohammad Reza Honarmand , writer = Farhad Tohidi , starring = Parviz Parastui Fatemeh Motamed-AryaAfsaneh Bayegan , music = Mohammad Reza Aligho ...

'', ''Charlatan'', '' The Kingdom of Solomon'', ''

Guidance Patrol The Guidance Patrol ( fa, گشت ارشاد, translit=gašt-e eršād) or morality police is a vice squad / Islamic religious police in the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran, established in 2005 with the task of arresting ...

'', '' Killing Mad Dogs'', ''

A Separation ''A Separation'' ( fa, جدایی, Jodâyi; also titled ''Nader and Simin, A Separation'') is a 2011 Iranian drama film written and directed by Asghar Farhadi, starring Leila Hatami, Peyman Moaadi, Shahab Hosseini, Sareh Bayat, and Sarina Farhad ...

'' and Hush! Girls Don't Scream were among the post-revolutionary films that gained the highest box office records. For many years, the most visible face of

ian commercial cinema was

, who starred in a number of popular successful films. In the more conservative social climate of Iran after the

Iranian Revolution The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...

of 1979, however, he came to be considered an embarrassment to Iranian national identity and his films — which depicted romance, alcohol, vulgarity, objectification of women, scantily-dressed men and women, nightclubs, and a vulgar lifestyle now condemned by the Islamic government — were banned. Although this would effectively prevent Fardin from making films for the remainder of his life, the ban did little to diminish his broad popularity with Iranian moviegoers: His funeral in

was attended by 20,000 mourners. Before Fardin, one could argue, Iran simply did not have a commercial cinema. During the war years, crime thrillers such as ''Senator'', ''The Eagles'', ''Boycott'', ''The Tenants'', and ''Kani Manga'' occupied the first position on the sales charts. Officially, the Iranian government disdains American cinema: in 2007 President Ahmadinejad's media adviser told the Fars news agency, "We believe that the American cinema system is devoid of all culture and art and is only used as a device." However, numerous Western commercial films such as ''

Jaws Jaws or Jaw may refer to: Anatomy * Jaw, an opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth ** Mandible, the lower jaw Arts, entertainment, and media * Jaws (James Bond), a character in ''The Spy Who Loved Me'' and ''Moonraker'' * ...

'', '' The Illusionist'', '' Passion of the Christ'', '' House of Sand and Fog'', ''

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow ''Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow'', often shortened to ''Sky Captain'', is a 2004 science fiction action- adventure film written and directed by Kerry Conran in his directorial debut, and produced by Jon Avnet, Sadie Frost, Jude Law an ...

'', '' Sherlock Holmes'', '' Alpha and Omega'', '' Scarface'', '' Casino Royale'', '' The Mechanic'', and '' The Aviator'' have been screened in Iranian cinemas and Iranian film festivals since the revolution. Despite great pride in the country's more than 100-year film history, Western cinema is enormously popular among Iran's young people, and practically every recent Hollywood film is available on CD, DVD, or video. State television has also broadcast more Western movies—partly because millions of Iranians have been switching to the use of banned satellite television equipment.

Iranian New Wave films

Iranian New Wave refers to a new movement in

Iranian cinema The Cinema of Iran ( Persian: سینمای ایران), also known as the Cinema of Persia, refers to the cinema and film industries in Iran which produce a variety of commercial films annually. Iranian art films have garnered international fame ...

. According to film critic Eric Henderson, the acclaimed documentary

The House Is Black ''The House Is Black'' ( fa, خانه سیاه است) is an acclaimed Iranian documentary short film directed by Forugh Farrokhzad. The film is a look at life and suffering in a leper colony and focuses on the human condition and the beauty of ...

(خانه سیاه است) directed by

Forough Farrokhzad Forugh Farrokhzad ( fa, فروغ فرخزاد; 28 December 1934 – 14 February 1967) was an influential Iranian poet and film director. She was a controversial modernist poet and an iconoclast,* feminist author.Forugh Farrokhzad died at the age ...

(famous Iranian poet and director) paved the way for the Iranian New Wave. The movement started in 1964 with

Hajir Darioush Hajir Darioush ( fa, هژیر داریوش , , Bandar Pahlavi, Iran – 2 October 1995, Blagnac, France) was an Iranian film maker, described by Javed Jabbar in 1982 as "the leader of the organised progressive Iranian cinema". He took his own li ...

's second film ''Serpent's Skin'', which was based on

D.H. Lawrence David Herbert Lawrence (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930) was an English writer, novelist, poet and essayist. His works reflect on modernity, industrialization, sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct. His best-k ...

's '' Lady Chatterley's Lover'' featuring

Fakhri Khorvash Fakhri Khorvash ( fa, فخری خوروش, born 31 May 1929) is an Iranian stage and film actress and director. She received the best actress award at the Sepas Film Festival in 1971 for her performance in the film '' Mr. Naive''. Life Khorvash a ...

and

. Darioush's two important early social documentaries ''But Problems Arose'' in 1965, dealing with the cultural alienation of the Iranian youth, and ''Face 75'', a critical look at the westernization of the rural culture, which was a prizewinner at the 1965 Berlin Film Festival, were also contributing significantly to the establishment of the New Wave. In 1968, after the release of Shohare Ahoo Khanoom directed by Davoud Mollapour, and the 1969 release of '' The Cow'' directed by Darius Mehrjui followed by

's '' Qeysar'', and Nasser Taqvai's ''

Tranquility in the Presence of Others Tranquillity (also spelled tranquility) is the quality or state of being tranquil; that is, calm, serene, and worry-free. The word tranquillity appears in numerous texts ranging from the religious writings of Buddhism, where the term ''passaddhi'' ...

'', the New Wave became well established as a prominent cultural, dynamic and intellectual trend. The Iranian viewer became discriminating, encouraging the new trend to prosper and develop. In the 1960s, there were 'New Wave' movements in the cinema of numerous countries. The pioneers of the Iranian New Wave were directors like

, Sohrab Shahid Saless,

Bahram Beizai Bahrām Beyzāêi (also spelt Beizāi, Beyzāêi, fa, بهرام بیضائی; born 26 December 1938) is an Iranian playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, film editor, and '' ostād'' ("master") of Persian letters, arts and Iranian studies ...

, and

Parviz Kimiavi Parviz Kimiavi ( fa, پرويز کيمياوی; born 1939, in Tehran) is an Iranian (Persian) film director, screenwriter, editor and one of the most prominent figures of Persian cinema of the 20th century. Kimiavi studied photography and film at ...

. They made innovative art films with highly political and philosophical tones and poetic language. Subsequent films of this type have become known as the New Iranian cinema to distinguish them from their earlier roots. The most notable figures of the Iranian New Wave are

, Darius Mehrjui,

Sohrab Shahid-Saless Sohrab Shaheed Salles or Sohrab Shahid-Saless ( fa, سهراب شهید ثالث; June 28, 1944 in Tehran, Iran – July 2, 1998 in Chicago, Illinois) was an Iranian film director and screenwriter and one of the most celebrated figures in Irania ...

Amir Naderi Amir Naderi ( fa, امیر نادری (), born 15 August 1946, in Abadan) is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, and photographer. He is best known for '' The Runner'' and ''Vegas: Based on a True Story''. Career Amir Naderi grew up in Abada ...

, and Abolfazl Jalili. The factors leading to the rise of the New Wave in Iran were, in part, due to the intellectual and political movements of the time. A romantic climate was developing after the 19 August 1953 coup in the sphere of arts. Alongside this, a socially committed literature took shape in the 1950s and reached a peak in the 1960s, which may consider as the golden era of contemporary

. Features of New Wave Iranian film, in particular the works of legendary

, can be classified as postmodern. Iranian New Wave films shared some characteristics with the European art films of the period, in particular

Italian Neorealism Italian neorealism ( it, Neorealismo), also known as the Golden Age, is a national film movement characterized by stories set amongst the poor and the working class. They are filmed on location, frequently with non-professional actors. They pri ...

. However, in her article 'Real Fictions', Rose Issa argues that Iranian films have a distinctively Iranian cinematic language :"that champions the poetry in everyday life and the ordinary person by blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality, feature film with documentary." She also argues that this unique approach has inspired European cinema directors to emulate this style, citing

Michael Winterbottom Michael Winterbottom (born 29 March 1961) is an English film director. He began his career working in British television before moving into features. Three of his films—''Welcome to Sarajevo'', ''Wonderland'' and ''24 Hour Party People''—h ...

's award winning ''

In This World ''In This World'' is a 2002 British docudrama directed by Michael Winterbottom. The film follows two young Afghan refugees, Jamal Udin Torabi and Enayatullah, as they leave a refugee camp in Pakistan for a better life in London. Since their jour ...

'' (2002) as an homage to contemporary Iranian cinema. Issa claims that "This new, humanistic aesthetic language, determined by the film-makers’ individual and national identity, rather than the forces of globalism, has a strong creative dialogue not only on home ground but with audiences around the world." In his book ''Close Up: Iranian Cinema, Past, Present, Future'' (2001)

Hamid Dabashi Hamid Dabashi ( fa, حمید دباشی; born 1951) is an Iranian-American professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York City. He is the author of over twenty books. Among them are ''Theology of Disc ...

describes modern Iranian cinema and the phenomenon of 'Iranian''national cinema as a form of cultural modernity. According to Dabashi, "the visual possibility of seeing the historical person (as opposed to the eternal Qur'anic man) on screen is arguably the single most important event allowing Iranians access to modernity." While Beyzai and Taghvai represent the first generation and Karim-Masihi and Kiarostami represent the second generation of New wave filmmakers, the third generation is represented by

Rafi Pitts Rafi Pitts ( fa, رفیع پیتز, born 1967) is an Iranian film director. Life and career Pitts was born in Mashad, Iran. Rafi spent his childhood in Tehran, where he lived in a basement flat underneath a post-production studio. He came to Eng ...

Maziar Miri Maziar Miri (born 1974 in Tehran) is an Iranian filmmaker. Maziar Miri graduated in editing, and started his career with making documentaries about Iran. He made his first short film in 1996, and worked for several years in the editing departme ...

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

, and

Babak Payami Babak Payami ( fa, بابک پیامی , born 1966) is an Iranian-Canadian film director, writer and producer. Biography Born in Tehran, Iran, Payami grew up in Afghanistan and Iran before leaving for Europe and subsequently Canada, where he ...

, along with newly emerged filmmakers such as Saman Salur and

Abdolreza Kahani Abdolreza Kahani ( fa, عبدالرضا کاهانی; born 22 December 1973) is an Iranian filmmaker. He made his first short film, The Smile in 1988. He made his first feature film, Dance with the Moon in 2003. In 2009, Kahani's film '' Twenty ...

Iranian popular art films

Parallel to the Iranian New Wave, with its neorealist and

minimalist In visual arts, music and other media, minimalism is an art movement that began in post– World War II in Western art, most strongly with American visual arts in the 1960s and early 1970s. Prominent artists associated with minimalism include Do ...

art cinema, there exists a so-called "popular art cinema" in Iran. Filmmakers who belong to this circle make films with a broader range of audience than the narrow spectrum of highly educated people who admire the New Wave, but believe that their movies are also artistically sound. Filmmakers such as

Nasser Taghvaee Nasser Taghvai ( fa, ناصر تقوایی, also romanized as Nāser Taghvā'i and Nāser Taqvāyi; born 10 July 1941) is an Iranian film director and screenwriter. Biography Taghvāi was born in Abadan. After early experiences as a story writer ...

and Ali Hatami are the best examples of this cinematic movement (some of these filmmakers also make new wave films e.g. '' Mum's Guest'' by Darius Mehrjui). The Demon and the Bald Hassan, Adam and Eve, The Fisherman's Story, City of Oranges, and Talisman are some of Hatami's works.

Iranian women's cinema

Following the rise of the Iranian New Wave, there are now record numbers of film school graduates in Iran and each year more than 20 new directors make their debut films, many of them women. In the last two decades, there have been a higher percentage of women directors in Iran than in most countries in the West. Samira Makhmalbaf directed her first film, '' The Apple'', when she was only 17 years old and won the

Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. T ...

Jury Prize in 2000 for her following film ''The Blackboard''. The success and hard work of the pioneering Rakhshan Bani-Etemad is an example that many women directors in Iran were following much before

made the headlines and the current Tahmineh Milani,

. Internationally recognized figures in Iranian women's cinema are: *

Marjane Satrapi Marjane Satrapi (; fa, مرجان ساتراپی ; born 22 November 1969) is a French-Iranian graphic novelist, cartoonist, illustrator, film director, and children's book author. Her best-known works include the graphic novel ''Persepolis'' a ...

in 2008 Nominated

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology) ...

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Award. In 2006, became a member of the

Cannes Film festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

Jury. She is an Iranian contemporary graphic novelist, illustrator and author of the best selling "Persepolis". In 2007 she won the Cannes jury prize and won Best first Film César Award 2008 in and Audience Award

Rotterdam International Film Festival The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Since its foundation in 1972, it has maintained a focus on independent and experimental fi ...

2008. *

in 1998 won

Sutherland Trophy The Sutherland Trophy was created in 1958 by the British Film Institute as an annual award for "the maker of the most original and imaginative film introduced at the National Film Theatre during the year". History In 1997, the criteria changed to ...

BFI London Film Festival and International Critics prize Locarno Film Festival 1998, that Federico Fellini Medal UNESCO Paris 2000 and The Special Jury Prize in

San Sebastián International Film Festival The San Sebastián International Film Festival ( SSIFF; es, Festival Internacional de San Sebastián, eu, Donostia Zinemaldia) is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián in September, in ...

2008,

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury The Prize of the Ecumenical Jury (french: Prix du Jury Œcuménique) is an independent film award for feature length films shown at major international film festivals since 1973. The award was created by Christian film makers, film critics and ot ...

2003, Giffoni Film Festival 2000 and

2000 Cannes Film Festival The 53rd Cannes Film Festival started on 14 May and ran until 25 May 2000. French film director, screenwriter, and producer Luc Besson was the Jury President. The Palme d'Or went to the Danish film '' Dancer in the Dark'' by Lars von Trier. The ...

. * Tahmineh Milani in 2001 won Best Artistic Contribution

Cairo International Film Festival The Cairo International Film Festival ( ar, مهرجان القاهرة السينمائي الدولي) is an annual internationally accredited film festival held in Cairo Opera House. It was established in 1976 and has taken place every year si ...

and three awards Best film, Best director, Best screenplay in

Asia Pacific Film Festival The Asia-Pacific Film Festival (abbreviated APFF) is an annual film festival hosted by the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific. The festival was first held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1954. History The festival was first held in Tok ...

2006 and Best film award in

Los Angeles Film Festival The LA Film Festival was an annual film festival that was held in Los Angeles, California, and usually took place in June. It showcased independent, international, feature, documentary and short films, as well as web series, music videos, episod ...

for The Unwanted Woman Movie 2005. Rakhshan Bani Etemad 03 (cropped)

* Rakhshan Bani-Etemad in 1995 a winner Bronze Leopard Award for her film The Blue-Veiled at the Locarno Film Festival and winner

Prince Claus Awards The Prince Claus Fund was established in 1996, named in honor of Prince Claus of the Netherlands. It receives an annual subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Fund has presented the international Prince Claus Awards annually si ...

in 1998. Her 2001 film Under the Skin of the City was entered into the

23rd Moscow International Film Festival The 23rd Moscow International Film Festival was held from 21 to 30 June 2001. The Golden St. George was awarded to the American film '' The Believer'' directed by Henry Bean. Jury * Margarethe von Trotta (Germany – President of the Jury) * Jia ...

where it won the Special Golden St.George. The following year she was a member of the jury at the

24th Moscow International Film Festival The 24th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 21 to 30 June 2002. The Golden St. George was awarded to the Italian-French film ''Resurrection'' directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. Jury * Chinghiz Aitmatov (Kyrgyzstan – Preside ...

, He the two major awards Netpac Award Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and Holden Award for the Best Script - Special Mention, Audience Award, CinemAvvenire Award

Torino Film Festival The Torino Film Festival (also called the Turin Film Festival, TFF) is an international film festival held annually in Turin, Italy. Held every November, it is the second largest film festival in Italy, following the Venice Film Festival. It was f ...

. He was an extraordinary year Her upcoming film Tales has been selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 71st Venice International Film Festival 2014. * Manijeh Hekmat in 2003 for film Zendane zanan won Amnesty International DOEN Award

and other he awards Ecumenical Jury Award

Fribourg International Film Festival The Fribourg International Film Festival (FIFF) is an annual film festival in Fribourg, Switzerland. It is focused on selected films from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The Grand Prize is the main award of the Fribourg International Film Festival ...

2002. Hekmat in 2002 year it was nominated Gold hugo

Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...

. *

in 2013 winner Best film award in London Iranian Film Festival and

Crystal Simorgh The Crystal Simorgh ( fa, ‌سیمرغ بلورین) is an award given by Fajr International Film Festival Iran's annual Fajr International Film Festival ( fa, جشنواره بین‌المللی فیلم فجر), or Fajr Film Festival (litt ...

Audience award Best film Farj Festival. in 1986 received Special Jury Award Giffoni Film Festival. *

in 2006 Script won the International Film Festival Rotterdam Hubert Bals Fund and three awards at

Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema The Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema (French: Festival international des cinémas d'Asie) is an annual special-interest film festival focusing on the cinemas of Asia. The festival is held annually in Vesoul, France. It was create ...

. *

Marzieh Meshkini Marzieh Meshkini ( fa, مرضیه مشکینی) (born 1969 in Tehran) is an Iranian cinematographer, film director and writer. She is married to filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who wrote the script for her debut film ''The Day I Became a Woman''. P ...

in 2000 won many awards, Silver Hugo

and received FIPRESCI Prize

Films from the South Films from the South ( no, Film fra sør) is an international movie festival held annually in Oslo, Norway. Movies from Africa, Asia, and Latin-America are shown. The festival has its origin in the student film club of University of Oslo, and has b ...

at Continuation winner New Currents Award

Busan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (''also'' Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festiv ...

also won Best director Award in

Thessaloniki Film Festival The Thessaloniki Film Festival is a Thessaloniki-based cultural institution focusing on cinema. The Institution organizes the Thessaloniki International Film Festival every November and the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival every March, while its ...

. Her following the success of their in

received Open Prize also UNESCO Award and also Nominated Golden Lion. *

Hana Makhmalbaf Hana Makhmalbaf ( fa, حنا مخملباف; born September 3, 1988 in Tehran) is an Iranian filmmaker. She is the younger sister of filmmaker Samira Makhmalbaf and daughter of filmmakers Mohsen Makhmalbaf and fatemeh meshkini. She is known fo ...

in 2008 won two great Award Crystal Bear and Peace Film Award

Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the fest ...

for film Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame. in 2003 Makhmalbaf It was winner Lina Mangiacapre Award Special Mention

and Won two Special Jury Prize

Tokyo Filmex TOKYO FILMeX (東京フィルメックス) is an international film festival established in 2000. The film festival was launched by Office Kitano, the agency and production company co-founded by leading actor-filmmaker Takeshi Kitano. TOKYO FILM ...

. Paolo Ungari UNICEF Prize

Rome Film Festival International Rome Film Fest is a film festival that takes place in Rome during the month of October. The name in Italian is Festa del Cinema di Roma. Sections The Rome Film Festival official program is divided into several sections: Cinema d'O ...

is other big her award. *

Massy Tadjedin Massy Tadjedin (born 1978) is an Iranian-American screenwriter and director. Biography Tadjedin was born in Tehran and grew up in Orange County, California, and studied English literature at Harvard University. Her movie credits include '' Le ...

in 2010 won Golden Marc'Aurelio Award

. Besides women involved in screenwriting and filmmaking, numerous award-winning Iranian actresses with uniques styles and talents attract critic. The first Iranian actress who won an award for acting in a major film festival was Mary Apick. The most notable Iranian actresses are: *

, Best Actor Award,

Nantes Film Festival The Festival des 3 Continents is an annual film festival held since 1979 in Nantes, France, and is devoted to the cinemas of Asia, and Africa and Latin America. It was founded by Philippe and Alain Jalladeau.San Sebastián International Film Festival The San Sebastián International Film Festival ( SSIFF; es, Festival Internacional de San Sebastián, eu, Donostia Zinemaldia) is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of Donostia-San Sebastián in September, in ...

1999, Best Actress in Cairo Film Festival 2001,

for Best Actor

Fajr International Film Festival Iran's annual Fajr International Film Festival ( fa, جشنواره بین‌المللی فیلم فجر), or Fajr Film Festival (little: FIFF; fa, جشنواره فیلم فجر), has been held every February and April in Tehran since 1982. T ...

2003, Best Actress

Taormina International Film Festival Taormina Film Fest (TFF) is a film festival that began in 1955 under the name Rassegna Cinematografica Internazionale di Messina e Taormina. The exhibition, which moved permanently to Taormina in 1971, has hosted over the years many stars of inter ...

1999 and Bastone Bianco Award

2005 *

Best Actor Award

Locarno International Film Festival The Locarno Film Festival is an annual film festival, held every August in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, the festival screens films in various competitive and non-competitive sections, including feature-length narrative, documentary, ...

2012,

Montreal World Film Festival The Montreal World Film Festival (WFF; french: le Festival des Films du Monde) was one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF (although the Toronto Interna ...

2002 and Silver Berlin Bear 2011 *

Fatemeh Motamed-Arya Fatemeh Motamed-Arya ( fa, فاطمه معتمدآریا; born October 29, 1961 in Tehran) is a multi-award-winning Iranian actress. She first got involved in theater during her teen years, and received her degree in theater from Tehran Art Instit ...

for the Best Actress, the 7th, 10th, 11th, and 12th

Best Actress Vesoul Asian Film Festival 2010 and Best Actress

2011

, First Iranian woman to be nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

and

Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture The Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture is one of the annual awards given by the International Press Academy. The category has gone through several changes since its inception. * From 1996 to 2010, two categories based on genre wer ...

2009 and

Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female The Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female was an award presented annually by Film Independent. It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an absolutely outstanding performance in a supporting role while working in an indepen ...

2003 *

, Best Actress Award

1999 and

for Best Supporting Actor from

2013 * Taraneh Alidousti, Best Actor Award,

2002, Best Actress

Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema Osian's-Cinefan is one of Asia's leading film-festival devoted to Asian and Arab cinema, and is part of ''Osian's Film House Division''. The festival celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2008. After a two-year break, the 12th staging of the f ...

2012 Best Actress Vesoul Asian Film Festival 2013 and

for best actress from

2002 * Mary Apick, Best Actress Award

Moscow International Film Festival The Moscow International Film Festival (russian: Моско́вский междунаро́дный кинофестива́ль, translit. ''Moskóvskiy myezhdunaródniy kinofyestivál''; abbreviated as MIFF) is the film festival first h ...

1977 *

for best Actress from

1998, 2006 and Best actress Pyongyang International Film Festival 2002 *

, Best Actor from International Section of

1997 and Best Actress award from

Nantes Three Continents Film Festival The Festival des 3 Continents is an annual film festival held since 1979 in Nantes, France, and is devoted to the cinemas of Asia, and Africa and Latin America. It was founded by Philippe and Alain Jalladeau.Fereshteh Sadre Orafaee Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy ( fa, فرشته صدرعرفایی, born 29 December 1962) is an Iranian actress. She is best known internationally for her role as Pari in '' The Circle'' (2000), which has won several awards including the Golden Lion ...

for Best Actor from

2005 and Best Actress Pasinetti Award

2000 *

Bita Farrahi Bita Lahrakhani Deinabli, better known as Bita Farrahi ( fa, بيتا فرهی , born 21 March 1958 in Tehran) is an Iranian actress. She is one of the most famous and internationally acclaimed actresses in Iran. Career Bita Farrahi studied art ...

, Best Actress from Pyongyang International Film Festival 2009 *

Soraya Ghasemi Soraya Qasemi ( fa, ثریا قاسمی; born 19 December 1940) is an Iranian actress. She was born in Tehran and her mother Hamideh Kheirabadi was known as ''Mother of the Iranian Cinema''.''Hamideh Kheirābādi, the "Nādereh" of the Irania ...

for Best Actor from

2001 *

for Best Supporting Actor from

2009 and for best actress from Batumi Art-House Film Festival 2013 * Susan Taslimi, Best Actor award, International Academy of Film Sweden 2000 *

for Best Actor from

1991 * Azita Hajian,

for Best Actor from Fajr

International Film Festival A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upo ...

1999 * Roya Teymourian,

for Best Supporting Actor from

2000 * Katayoun Riahi, Best Actress

2002 *

Roya Nonahali Roya Nonahali ( fa, رویا نونهالی; born February 13, 1963) is an Iranian actress and director. She studied painting, and has worked in theatre since 1984. Nonahali started film acting with ''The Beloved Is at Home'' (1987, by Khosrow Si ...

, Best Actress from Amiens International Film Festival 1977 and

for Best Actor from

1989 * Mitra Hajjar,

for Best Actor from

2000 *

for Best Supporting Actor from

2011 *

for Best Actor from

2007 *

for Best Actor from

2013 * Negar Javaherian, Best Actress, UNESCO Award from

Asia Pacific Screen Awards The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) is an international cultural initiative overseen by the Asia Pacific Screen Academy and headquartered in Australia. In order to realise UNESCO's goals of promoting and preserving the different cultures th ...

2013 and

for Best Actor from

2010 * Pantea Bahram, Best Actress from

Mumbai International Film Festival The Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films (MIFF) is a festival organized in the city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) by the Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. It ...

2011 * Hengameh Ghaziani,

for Best Actor from

2008, 2012 and Best Actress Love Is Folly International Film Festival 2012 Furthermore, women's resistance against the symbolic order in the society has been demonstrated in different movies such as ''The Little Rusty Brains '' by Houman Seyedi

Iranian war films

Ebrahim Hatamikia in Ghoghnos Film Festival

War cinema in Iran was born simultaneously with the beginning of

Iran–Iraq War The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between Iran and Ba'athist Iraq, Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. It began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for almost eight years, until the acceptance of United Nations S ...

. However, it took many years until it found its way and identity by defining characteristics of ''Iranian war cinema''.

In the Alleys of Love ''In the Alleys of Love'' ( fa, در کوچه‌های عشق, ''Dar Koocheha-ye Eshgh'') is a 1991 Iranian war film about the city of Khorramshahr shortly after the Iran–Iraq War. The film was shot in colour on 35 mm film. Khosrow Sinai w ...

(1990), by

, shows the most poematic view on the Iran Iraq war and still after years, is one of the leading films about this historical event from a humanistic aspect, although unlike other Iranian war cinema which are fully supported by the

Iranian government The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ( fa, نظام جمهوری اسلامی ایران, Neẓām-e jomhūrī-e eslāmi-e Irān, known simply as ''Neẓām'' ( fa, نظام, lit=the system) among its supporters) is the ruling state a ...

this film was made with numerous difficulties. In the past decades, the Iranian film industry has produced many war films. In the Iranian war film genre, war has often been portrayed as glorious and "holy", bringing out the good in the protagonist and pandering to nationalist sentiments with propagandistic messaging. ''Tears of Cold'' and ''Duel'' were two films that have gone beyond the traditional view of war. Many renowned directors were involved in developing ''Iranian war cinema'': *

Morteza Avini Sayyid Morteza Avini ( fa, سید مرتضی آوینی; also spelled Aviny; 23 September 1947 – 9 April 1993) was an Iranian documentary filmmaker, author, and theoretician of " Islamic Cinema." He studied Architecture at Tehran University i ...

''(Famous TV Documentary: Ravayat-e Fath)'' *

Shahriar Bahrani Shahriar Bahrani ( fa, شهریار بحرانی) is an Iranian director. Selected filmography * 2009: The Kingdom of Solomon * 2000: Saint Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, ...

''(Famous film: The Attack on H3)'' * Mohammad Bozorgnia ''(Famous film: Jang-e naftkesh-ha)'' * Ahmad Reza Darvish ''(Famous film: Duel)'' *

Seifollah Dad Seifollah Dad (1955-2009) was an Iranian peoples, Iranian screenwriter and director. He was born in Khurramshahr and studied sociology at Shiraz University. He made his directorial debut with ''Under the Rain'' in 1985, and his second film ''Kani-Ma ...

''(Famous film: Kani Manga)'' *

Samuel Khachikian Samuel Khachikian ( hy, Սամուէլ Խաչիկեան ; fa, ساموئل خاچیکیان; October 21, 1923 – October 22, 2001) was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, author, and film editor of Armenian descent. He was one of the most ...

''(Famous film:

)'' *

''(Famous films: Mohajer,

Az Karkheh ta Rhein ''From Karkheh to Rhein'' ( fa, از کرخه تا راین, Az Karkheh tā Rāīn) is a 1993 Cinema of Iran, Iranian film written and directed by Ebrahim Hatamikia starring Ali Dehkordi and Homa Rousta. The film is first German-Iranian co-product ...

, Booy-E Pirahan-E Yusef,

and

Che (2014 film) ''Che'' (Persian: چ) is a 2014 Iranian biographical war film directed by Ebrahim Hatamikia. ''Che'' depicts 48 hours of the life of Mostafa Chamran, who was then defense minister of Iran. On August 16 and 17, 1979 he was sent by Ayatollah Khomei ...

)'' *

''(Famous film:

The Marriage of the Blessed ''Marriage of the Blessed'' ( fa, عروسی خوبان , script=, translit=Arousi-ye khouban) is a 1988 Iranian film directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf about Haji, a young soldier of the Iran–Iraq War, and his inability to adapt to civilian life afte ...

)'' *

Rasoul Mollagholipour Rasoul Mollagholipour ( Persian:رسول ملاقلی‌پور; also spelled Rasool Mollagholi Poor; 1955 – 6 March 2007) was an Iranian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer. Career He began his career as a photographer. He direc ...

''(Famous films: Safar be Chazabeh &

Mim Mesle Madar ''M for Mother'' ( fa, میم مثل مادر, romanized: Mim Mesle Madar) is an Iranian film. Directed by Rasoul Mollaqolipour, the film stars Ali Shadman, Golshifteh Farahani and Hossein Yari. it was selected as the Iranian entry for the Bes ...

)'' * Ali Shah Hatami ''(Famous film: Akharin Shenasaee)'' *

Kamal Tabrizi Kamal Tabrizi ( fa, کمال تبریزی, born 28 October 1959) is an Iranian film director. He was born in Tehran, with his parents having moved there from Tabriz. A newly released picture shows that he was as a photographer and reporter among ...

''(Famous films: Dar Maslakh-e Eshgh & Leily Ba Man Ast)'' *

Kiumars Pourahmad Kiumars Pourahmad ( fa, کیومرث پوراحمد, born 16 December 1949 in Najaf Abad, Isfahan, Iran) is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. Career Pourahmad started his career as a film critic and ass ...

''(Famous film:

)'' *

Behzad Behzadpour Behzad Behzadpour (born 1961- Tehran) is an Iranian director, screenwriter, editor and film actor. Filmography Director * Khodahafez Rafiq (Episode 1) (2003) * Khodahafez Rafiq (Episode 2) (2003) * Khodahafez Rafiq (Episode 3) (2003) the ...

''(Famous film: Khodahafez Rafigh)'' Other films famous and popular Iran Iraq War: ''Goodbye Life'' directed by Ensieh Shah-Hosseini, ''Heeva'', ''Mazrae-ye pedari'' and ''Safar be Chazabeh'' directed by

, ''Kirkuk Operation'', ''Hoor on Fire'' and ''Kani Manga'' directed by

. '' Che'', ''

'', ''Mohajer'' and ''The Red Ribbon'' directed by

. ''

Big Drum Under Left Foot ''Big Drum Under Left Foot'' ( fa, طبل بزرگ زیر پای چپ; also known as ''Left Foot Forward on the Beat'') is a 2004 Iranian war drama directed by Kazem Masoumi. The story of movie is about the Iran Iraq war. It was entered into the 2 ...

'' directed by Kazem Masoumi. ''Gilaneh'' directed by Rakhshan Bani-E'temad. ''The Day Third'' directed by Mohammad Hossein Latifi. ''The Reward of Silence'' directed by

. ''Sizdah 59'' directed by Saman Salur. ''

The Queen In the English-speaking world, The Queen most commonly refers to: * Elizabeth II (1926–2022), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death The Queen may also refer to: * Camilla, Queen Consort (born 1947), ...

'' directed by

Mohammad Ali Bashe Ahangar Mohammad Ali Bashe Ahangar ( fa, محمدعلی باشه آهنگر; also Romanized as ''Mohammad-Ali Bashe Ahangar'') (b. 1962) is an Iranian director and screenwriter. Filmography * ''The Lost Half'' (), 1998 * ''Sugar Solution'' (), 2003 * ...

. ''Mardi shabih-e baran'' directed by Saeed Soheili. ''

'' directed by

. ''

Snake Fang ''Snake Fang'' ( fa, دندان مار, Dandān-e Mār) is a 1990 Iranian war film directed by Masoud Kimiai. It was entered into the 41st Berlin International Film Festival where it won an Honourable Mention. Cast * Golchehre Sajadieh as Siw ...

'' directed by

and ''Hoor dar Atash'' directed by Azizollah Hamidnezhad.

Iranian animations

There are some evidences suggesting that Ancient Iranians made animations. An animated piece on an earthen goblet made 5000 years ago was found in Burnt City in Sistan-Baluchistan province, southeastern Iran. The artist has portrayed a goat that jumps toward a tree and eats its leaves. The first Tehran International Animation Festival was held in the year 1999, four decades after the time the production of first animation films in Iran. The Second Tehran International Animation Festival was held in February 2001. Apart from Iranian films, animations from 35 foreign countries participated in the festival. The following are among the notable filmmakers of Iranian animated films : * Noureddin Zarrin-Kelk * Bahram Azimi * Ali Akbar Sadeghi

Children and youth films

Although early attempts also existed, the Iranian children and youth cinema came of age with acclaimed director Mohammad Ali Talebi (b. 1958). He started his career in the 1980s and achieved success beyond Iran with ''Bag of Rice'' (1997) and ''

Willow and Wind ''Willow and Wind'' ( fa, italic=yes, Beed-o baad) is a 2000 Iranian drama film directed by Mohammad-Ali Talebi and written by Abbas Kiarostami. Plot During a football game, a piece of window glass is smashed in an Iranian school. The boy respons ...

'' (2000), whose script was written by

. Talebi believed that producing movies for children and teenagers was a service to “the most fragile and vulnerable of the Iranian society.” In the 2010s, he became somewhat skeptical about the future of children and youth cinema in Iran, and in 2018 moved to

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

Timeline of Iranian films

* Pre 1960 * 1960s *

1970s File:1970s decade montage.jpg, Clockwise from top left: U.S. President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office following the Watergate scandal in 1974; The United States was still involved in the Vietnam War ...

1980s File:1980s replacement montage02.PNG, 420px, From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, ''Columbia'', lifts off in 1981; US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ease tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the ...

* 1990s *

2000s File:2000s decade montage3.png, From top left, clockwise: The World Trade Center on fire and the Statue of Liberty during the 9/11 attacks in 2001; the euro enters into European currency in 2002; a statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled during th ...

2010s File:2010s collage v21.png, From top left, clockwise: Anti-government protests called the Arab Spring arose in 2010–2011, and as a result, many governments were overthrown, including when Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed; Crimea is ...

* 2020s

Influence of Iranians on others' New Wave films

Amongst the pioneers of French New Wave were François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol and

Eric Rohmer The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...

or Barbet Schroeder (born in

, Iran in 1941 where his German geologist Father was on assignment). During the first half of the 20th century, France was the major destination for Iranian students who wished to study abroad. Iranian Ambassador to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

Fereydoun Hoveyda Fereydoon Hoveyda ( fa, فریدون هویدا ''Fereydūn Hoveyda'', 21 September 1924 – 3 November 2006) was an Iranian diplomat, writer and thinker. He was the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations from 1971 until 1979. Early life and ...

was one of them. Fereydoun Hoveyda played a major role in French cultural scene and especially in the field of Cinema, for he was the protégé of François Truffaut whom he befriended and with whom he helped create the well-known film magazine '' Les Cahiers du Cinéma'' that spearheaded the French Nouvelle Vague or New Wave Cinema. He also worked closely with Italian film director

Roberto Rossellini Roberto Gastone Zeffiro Rossellini (8 May 1906 – 3 June 1977) was an Italian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was one of the most prominent directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing to the movement with films such ...

on several film scripts during that period. Fereydoun Hoveyda was not the only Iranian of his generation to play an active role in promoting the French Cinéma d'Auteur. Youssef Ishaghpour is another example. Another Iranian figure in French New Wave was

Shusha Guppy Shushā Guppy ( fa, شوشا گوپی; née Shamsi Assār ( fa, شمسی عصار; 24 December 1935 – 21 March 2008) was a writer, editor and a singer of Persian and Western folk songs. She lived in London from the early 1960s, until her death ...

a singer, writer and filmmaker who was

Jacques Prévert Jacques Prévert (; 4 February 1900 – 11 April 1977) was a French poet and screenwriter. His poems became and remain popular in the French-speaking world, particularly in schools. His best-regarded films formed part of the poetic realist moveme ...

's girlfriend. However, the most important contribution to the French New Wave cinema is that of Serge Rezvani an Iranian poet born in Tehran in 1928. He played a major role as music composer of both François Truffaut ''Jules et Jim'' and Jean-Luc Godard ''Pierrot le Fou'', considered as landmarks of French New Wave Cinema.

Farah Diba Farah Pahlavi ( fa, فرح پهلوی, née Farah Diba ( fa, فرح دیبا, label=none); born 14 October 1938) is the widow of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and was successively Queen and Empress (''Shahbanu'') of Iran from ...

studied at the Beaux Arts and became the focus of attention and the French press was to see her as the new Persian Cinderella. Farah Diba was one of the rare foreign dignitaries to become a permanent member of the French

Académie des Beaux-Arts An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, ...

. Iranian

Robert Hossein Robert Hossein (30 December 1927 – 31 December 2020) was a French film actor, director, and writer. He directed the 1982 adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' and appeared in '' Vice and Virtue'', '' Le Casse'', '' Les Uns et les Autres'' and '' ...

(son of legendary musician Aminollah Hossein) started his acting career with his French Armenian friend Chahnour Varinag Aznavourian (known as the famed crooner

Charles Aznavour Charles Aznavour ( , ; born Shahnour Vaghinag Aznavourian, hy, Շահնուր Վաղինակ Ազնավուրեան, ; 22 May 1924 – 1 October 2018) was a French-Armenian singer, lyricist, actor and diplomat. Aznavour was known for his dist ...

) in the mid fifties essentially type cast as "Mr. Tough Guy". However he got international acclaim in the early Sixties particularly in Europe, Russia and Asia as the mysterious "Jeoffrey, Comte de Peyrac" lover of the lovely Michèle Mercier in the soft erotic-adventure film series of ''Angélique Marquise des Anges''. In the seventies and eighties he was to play opposite

Jean-Paul Belmondo Jean-Paul Charles Belmondo (; 9 April 19336 September 2021) was a French actor and producer. Initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s, he was a major French film star for several decades from the 1960s onward. His best known credits ...

in police thrillers like ''The Professional''. Hossein became known for being a talented theater director and his taste for popular historical vehicles involving large sets and numerous actors. After the resignation of French President Charles de Gaulle, Iranian Anicée Shahmanesh became known under the screen name Anicée Alvina, playing a French girl in a British film hit called ''Friends'', the music score of which propelled British pop star Elton John. She was also to take on a courageous lesbian role in the screen adaptation of Françoise Mallet-Joris' novel ''Le Rempart des Béguines''. Two major documentaries were produced in these years by respectively Agnès Varda and the duo

Claude Lelouch Claude Barruck Joseph Lelouch (; born 30 October 1937) is a French film director, writer, cinematographer, actor and producer. Lelouch grew up in an Algerian Jewish Family. He emerged as a prominent director in the 1960s. Lelouch gained criti ...

and

Claude Pinoteau Claude Pinoteau (25 May 1925 – 5 October 2012) was a French film director and scriptwriter. Born in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts de Seine, Île-de-France, France. He died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, aged 87. (in French) His sister was the actress ...

: * Agnès Varda, first to be discovered to young actor Gérard Depardieu in her 1970 film ''Nausicaa'', directed a love story set in Isfahan (1976) between a French woman (Valérie Mairesse) visiting Iran as a tourist and her guide an Iranian Man (Ali Raffi). The film was entitled ''Plaisir D'Amour en Iran''. The romantic film was shot on location in ''The Masjed Shah''. *

and

on the other hand shot their documentary just after the

Celebrations in 1971. They decided to address the urban transformations and cultural emancipation that the country was subject to by the early seventies. Several Iranian expats such as

Philippe Khorsand Philippe Khorsand (February 17, 1948 – January 29, 2008) was a French actor. His father was Iranian and his mother was French. He first appeared in a number of small roles in the 1970s. One of his most memorable roles as husband and father in ' ...

or Persian play writer/actor

Yasmina Reza Yasmina Reza (born 1 May 1959) is a French playwright, actress, novelist and screenwriter best known for her plays Art and ''God of Carnage''. Many of her brief satiric plays have reflected on contemporary middle-class issues. The 2011 blac ...

have also gained notice in recent years. The latter is particularly known for her highly intellectual introspection in such plays like ''Art'' (for which Sean Connery bought the film rights, advised by his French wife).

Music in Iranian cinema

Although Iranian composers usually have their own special style and music structure, they all share one thing: melodic, lively rhythms. That might be because they often begin with folkloric songs and shift to film music. In the past few decades, a few composers have emerged in the Iranian cinema with highly appraised works. Composers like

Hormoz Farhat Hormoz Farhat ( fa, هرمز فرهت; 9 August 1928 – 16 August 2021) was a Persian-American composer and ethnomusicologist who spent much of his career in Dublin, Ireland. An emeritus professor of music, he was a fellow of Trinity College, ...

Morteza Hannaneh Morteza Hannaneh ( fa, مرتضی حنانه; March 1, 1923 – October 17, 1989) was an Iranian composer and Musician He composed for some films, such as '' Fleeing the Trap'' in 1971. Musical career He studied Horn at the Tehran Conservatory ...

Fariborz Lachini Fariborz Lachini ( fa, فریبرز لاچینی; born August 25, 1949) is an Iranian film score composer. Career He started his career in Iran writing music for children, creating "Avaz Faslha va Rangha" at the age of 18 which caught the attent ...

, Ahmad Pejman, Majid Entezami, Babak Bayat, Karen Homayounfar, Naser Cheshmazar and Hossein Alizadeh were some of the most successful score composers for Iranian films in the past decades.

Iranian international film festivals

Film festivals have a rather long history in Iran that goes back to the 1950s. The first ''Tehran International Film Festival'' opened in April 1973. Although the festival never reached the level of Cannes and Venice, however, it managed to become well known as a class A festival. It was a highly reputable festival and many well-known filmmakers took part in it with their films. Great filmmakers such as Francesco Rosi, Michelangelo Antonioni Grigori Kozintsev, Elizabeth Taylor, Pietro Germi, Nikita Mikhalkov, Krzysztof Zanussi, Martin Ritt won the festival's awards.

Fajr Film Festival

The Fajr International Film Festival has taken place since 1983. It was intended to be as magnificent and spectacular as possible from its very onset. It had a background as powerful as that of the Tehran International Film Festival and wanted to remain on the same track. Although the Fajr Film Festival is not yet classed among the top film festivals, it has been successful in making policies and setting examples for the future of Iranian cinema. In its early years it had a competition section for professional as well as amateur film (8 mm, 16 mm). Since 1990, there has been an international along with the national competition. The festival also features a competition for advertisement items like posters, stills and trailers. In 2005, the festival added competitions for Asian as well as spiritual films. The top prize is called

NAM Filmmakers' Meeting

Iran is the current President of the Non-Aligned Movement and hosted the 16th NAM summit between 26 and 31 August 2012, after which the presidency was handed to Ahmadinejad on 1 September. The latest move by the NAM Chairman has been to organise a NAM filmmakers' meeting in order to discuss the establishment of a NAM filmmakers' union. The meeting is to be held in February 2013, concurrently with the 31st Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran.

International Film Festival for Children and Youth

The International Film Festival for Children and Youth has taken place since 1985. In its first three years, it was part of the Fajr Film Festival. From 1988 to 1989, it was located in Tehran, and since then in Isfahan, except for 1996 when it was held in Kerman. The festival features international and national film and video competitions. The top prize is called ''Golden Butterfly''.

House of Cinema Ceremony

On September 12, the national day of Iranian cinema, a celebration is held annually by the House of Cinema. In the 2006 event, Akira Kurosawa was honored.

Noor Iranian Film Festival

Founded in 2007, the Noor Iranian Film Festival is held annually in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco

Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco (IFF), the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran, launched in 2008, is an annual event showcasing independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world
Website

London Iranian Film Festival

is an annual, independent film festival held in London, United Kingdom. It is now entering its fourth year. It is the only festival in the UK that is dedicated to Iranian independent cinema, with this year's event taking place from the 1st to the 9th of November.

Roshd International Film Festival

Roshd International Film Festival was first staged in 1963 by the Bureau of Audio-visual Activities of the Ministry of Education of Iran. It is centered on the films with educational and pedagogical themes and is staged every year by the Supplying Educational Media Center, a sub-branch of the Ministry of Education of the I.R.Iran. The Festival seeks the main objectives of identifying and selecting the best educational and pedagogical films in order to introduce them to the educational systems.

Persian International Film Festival

Persian International Film Festival is an independent cultural film event, that brings together screen stories of diverse global Persian communities. Founded in 2012 by Dr Amin Palangi, it is Located in Sydney, Australia. www.persianfilmfestival.com

Iranian Film Festival Zurich

Iranian Film Festival of Zürich (IFFZ), is being organized to fulfill the cultural gap between Iranians and Swiss along with the foreigners living in Switzerland. The festival also wishes to contribute to the host country by bringing every year the best feature, documentary and short films from all generation of the Iranian filmmakers to Zürich. The IFFZ wishes that this becomes a platform for presenting the Iranian culture and tradition and build a bridge in such an exceptional city of Zürich among many nations present by the universal language of art and specifically the 7th art, cinema. iranianfilmfestival.ch

Festival of Iranian Films in Prague

The main goal of the festival is to provide a vivid image of Iranian cinema for a wide range of international audiences in the Prague, Czech Republic.

Iranian Film Festival Cologne

Iranian film Festival is programmed to be held in the city of Cologne in Germany to represent the country Cinema industry. House of Cinema in collaboration with Cologne Municipality paved the way for holding the festival.

The Festival Cinema of Iran

Iranian film festival (Cinéma D'Iran) is scheduled to kick off on June 26 and will run until July 2, 2013 in Paris.

Houston Iranian Film Festival

The Houston Iranian Film Festival showcases the best in new cinema from Iran. Iranian film varied by jury is, In Houston, America will be held.

Tehran International Animation Festival

International Animation Festival in Iran Held in

Other Festivals

Other valid festivals like: Iran International Documentary Film Festival, Moqavemat International Film Festival, International Film Festival 100, International Urban Film Festival, International Parvin Etesami Film Festival, Jasmine International Film Festival (TJIFF), Celebration of Iran Cinematic Critics and Writers, Rouyesh Religious Short Film Festival, Iranian Youth Cinema Society, Edinburgh Iranian Festival, Iranian Film Festival (IFF), Iranian Film Festival Chandigarh, Film Festival, Varesh Short Film Festival, Tehran International Video Film Festival, International Festival of Independent Filmmakers, and Canada's Iranian Film Festival.

International recognition of Iranian cinema

Here is a list of Grand prizes awarded to Iranian cinema by the most prestigious film festivals: Iranian serials are very popular in the region

Cannes

First presence of Iranian cinema in Cannes dates back to 1991 when ''in the alleys of love'' by

and then 1992 when ''And Life Goes On, Life and nothing more'' by

represented Iran in the festival. *1995: Caméra d'Or (Golden Camera):

*1997: Palme d'Or (Golden Palm):

*2000: Caméra d'Or (Golden Camera): Hassan Yektapanah ,

*2000: Prix du Jury (Jury Prize):

*2001: Prize of the Ecumenical Jury:

*2003: Prix du Jury (Jury prize):

*2003: Prix Un Certain Regard:

*2003: Prize of the Ecumenical Jury:

*2004: Caméra d'Or (Golden Camera): Mohsen Amiryoussefi *2007: Prix du Jury (Jury prize):

*2009: Prix Un Certain Regard:

*2011: Prix Un Certain Regard:

*2011: François Chalais Award - Special Mention: Mohammad Rasoulov *2013: Prix Un Certain Regard:

*2013: Prize of the Ecumenical Jury:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

*2015: Un Certain Regard - Avenir Prize: Ida Panahandeh *2016: Prix du scénario (Best Screenplay):

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

*2016: Prix d'interprétation masculine (Best Actor):

*2017: Un Certain Regard Award:

*2018: Prix du scénario (Best Screenplay):

*2021: Grand prix (Grand Prix):

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

*2022: Prix d'interprétation féminine (Best Actress):

Academy Awards (Oscars)

*1969: Ray Aghayan: Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Best Costume Design Nomination for Gaily, Gaily *1996: Habib Zargarpour: Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Best Visual Effects Nomination for Twister (1996 film), Twister *1996: Darius Khondji: Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Best Cinematography Nomination for Evita (1996 film), Evita *1997: Hossein Amini: Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay Nomination for The Wings of the Dove *1998:

: Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Foreign Language Film Nomination for Children of Heaven *1999: Mehdi Norowzian: Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Best Live Action Short Film Award for Killing Joe *2000: Habib Zargarpour: Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Best Visual Effects Nomination for The Perfect Storm (film), The Perfect Storm *2003:

: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actress Nomination for House of Sand and Fog *2006: Kami Asgar: Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Editing Nomination for Apocalypto *2007:

: Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Best Animated Feature Nomination for Persepolis (film), Persepolis *2011:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

: Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay Nomination for

*2011:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

: Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Foreign Language Film Award for

*2014: Talkhon Hamzavi: Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Best Live Action Short Film Award for Parvaneh (film), Parvaneh *2016:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

: Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Foreign Language Film Award for The Salesman (2016 film), The Salesman

Golden Globe Awards

*2011:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(Award) Best Foreign Language Film,

*2013:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(Nominated) Best Foreign Language Film, The Past (2013 film), The Past *2016:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(Nominated) Best Foreign Language Film, The Salesman (2016 film), The Salesman *2021:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(Nominated) Best Foreign Language Film, A Hero

Venice

*Golden Lion:

(2000) *Silver Lion for the Best Director: :

(2001)

* Special Jury Prize: Ana Lily Amirpour (2016) *Golden Osella for the Best Director: Abolfazl Jalili (1995), Shirin Neshat (2009) *Best Screenplay Award: Rakhshan Bani Etemad (2014) *FIPRESCI Prize:

(1971),

(1999), Ramin Bahrani (2008) *Special Jury Prize:

(1999),

(2009) *The Special Orizzonti Jury Prize: Shahram Mokri (2013) *The Orizzonti Award for Best Director:

(2017) *The Orizzonti Award for Best Actor:

(2017) *SIGNIS Award - Honorable Mention:

(2008) *OCIC Award :

(2001) *Netpac Award:

(2001) *UNICEF Award:

(2001) *Pasinetti Award:

(2001) *Digital Cinema Award: Mania Akbari (2004) *Lina Mangiacapre Award - Special Mention:

(2003) *Open Prize:

(2004) *UNESCO Award:

(2000) *Isvema Award:

(2000) *CinemAvvenire Award:

(1999),

(2000)

Berlin

*Golden Bear:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2011),

(2015),

(2020) *Silver Bear:

(1976) *Silver Bear for Best Director:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2009) *Silver Bear for Best Script:

(2013) *Silver Bear for Best Actor:

(2008),

(Total Actors 2011) *Silver Bear for Best Actress:

(Total Actresses 2011) *Jury Grand Prix:

(2006) *Special Mention:

(1991) *FIPRESCI Prize: Sohrab Shahid Saless (1974 & 1975) *Interfilm Award:

(1972), Sohrab Shahid Saless (1974 & 1975) *OCIC Award:

(1969), Sohrab Shahid Saless (1974 & 1975) *Don Quixote Award - Special Mention:

(1999) *Crystal Bear Generation Kplus - Best Feature Film:

(2008) *Peace Film Award:

(2008) *Netpac Award:

(2012) *Teddy Award for the Best Short Film: Maryam Keshavarz ( * Crystal Bear for the Best Short Film (2019)

Locarno

The first film from Iranian cinema that won a prize in Locarno festival was ''Where Is the Friend's Home?'' directed by Abbas Kiarostami (1989). *Golden Leopard:

(1997), Ebrahim Forouzesh (1994) *Silver Leopard: Kianoush Ayari (1994), Abolfazl Jalili (1998), Hassan Yektapanah (2004) *Bronze Leopard:

(1988),

(1989) *Special Jury Prize: Abolfazl Jalili (2001), Rasul Sadrameli (2002), Saman Salur (2006) *Leopard for the Best Actress: Taraneh Alidoosti (2002) *NETPAC Prize: Hassan Yektapanah (2004) *Special Mention, Official Jury:

(1996) *Special mention, FIBRESCI jury:

(1989),

(1998) *Special Mention: Alireza Amini (2003) *Ecumenical Jury special Mention: Sohrab Shahid Saless (1976),

(1989)

London

*FIPRESCI Prize:

(2001) *FIPRESCI International Critics Prize: Ramin Bahrani (2005) *FIPRESCI Prize - Special Mention: Abolfazl Jalili (1998),

(2001) *Sutherland Trophy:

(2007),

(1998) *Grierson Award for the Best Documentary: Mehrdad Oskouei (2016) BahmanGhobadi

San Sebastian

*Golden Shell:

(1993),

(2004 & 2006) *Silver Shell:

(1993), Abolfazl Jalili (1998) *Special Jury Prize:

(1996),

(2008) *FIPRESCI Award:

(2006) *Jury Prize for Best Cinematography: Touraj Aslani (2012). *Special Prize of the Jury:

(2007) *TVE Otra Mirada Award:

(2007)

Montreal

*Grand Prix:

(1997, 1999 & 2001) *Best Actress:

(2002),

(2011) *Golden Zenith for Best Asian Film :

(2004)

Karlovy Vary

*Special Jury Prize:

(1992) *Best Actor: Hamid Farrokhnezhad (2000) *Special Jury Prize:

(2009) *Best Actress:

(2012) *FIPRESCI Prize: Ali Mosaffa (2012) *Don Quijote Award - Special Mention:

(2000), Alireza Amini (2004)

Mar del Plata

*Golden Astor: iran, Mahmoud Kalari (1998) *Special Jury Award: Mohsen Amiryoussefi (2005) *Best Actress: Negar Javaherian (2014) *Special Mention: Kambozia Partovi (2006), Hossein Shahabi (2013)

Thessaloniki

*Golden Alexander: Mohsen Amiryoussefi (2004) *Golden Alexander:

(2008) *Silver Alexander: Mona Zandi Haghighi (2006) *Best Director:

(2000)

*Special Jury Award:

(2017) *Special Mention: Hossein Shahabi (2013) *Audience Award: Mohsen Amiryoussefi (2004) *Special Artistic Achievement: Alireza Amini (2003)

Moscow

*Golden George:

(2008 & 2016) *Special Golden St.George: Rakhshan Bani Etemad (2001) *Special Jury Prize: Vahid Mousaian (2002) *Silver George for the best actor:

(2003), Hamid Farrokhnezhad (2005), Farhad Aslani (2016) *Best Actress: Mary Apick (1977), Soha Niasti (2019) *Russian Critics Jury's Prize:

(2008)

Chicago

*Gold Hugo:

(2003),

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2006),

(2014) *Silver Hugo:

(1994) *Special Jury Prize:

(2000) & (2004),

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2016) *Best Screenplay:

(2017) *Best Actor: Ezzatollah Entezami (1971) *Silver Hugo for the Best First Film:

(2000) *Silver Hugo of the Docufest Competition: Arash T. Riahi (2006). *Best Documentary: Arash Lahooti (2013)

Shanghai

*Golden Goblet for the Best Film:

(2019) *Golden Goblet for the Best Director:

(2019) *Golden Goblet for the Best Actor: Hamed Behdad (2019) *Golden Goblet for the Best Film: Khosro Masumi (2004 & 2012) *Grand Jury Prize: Mostafa Taghizadeh (2017) *Golden Goblet for the Best Actress:

(2017)

Warsaw

*Grand Prix:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2004), Parviz Shahbazi (2016) *Audience Award:

(1999) *Special Jury Award:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2011) *NETPAC Award:

(2014)

Shahab Hosseini in The Salesman's press conference in Tehran

Goa

*Golden Peacock:

(2003),

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2004),

(2005)

Festroia

*Golden Dolphin:

(1997),

(2005)

Rotterdam

*Hivos Tiger Award: Mohammad Shirvani (2013)

Busan

*New Currents Award: Marziyeh Meshkini (2000), Iran, Alireza Amini (2003), Iran, Morteza Farshbaf (2011),

(2013) *FIPRESCI Award: Parviz Shahbazi (2003), Iran, Morteza Farshbaf (2011), Iran, Safi Yazdanian (2014)

Sydney

*Prize:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2011)

Nantes

*Golden Montgolfiere:

(1985 & 1989), Abolfazl Jalili (1996 & 2001), Saman Salur (2006) *Silver Montgolfiere:

(1993),

(2000) *Special Jury Award: Alireza Davoudnejad (1992),

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

(2006) *Best Actress:

(1993),

(2004)

Sitges

*Best Director:

(1996) *Best Actor: Hasan Majuni (2017)

Istanbul

*Golden Tulip: Saeed Ebrahimifar (1990),

(1998) *FIPRESCI Prize: Bahman Farmanara (2001)

Cairo

*Best Film: Nima Javidi (2014) *Best Director:

(1978), Khosro Masumi (2006) *Best Screenplay: Kianoush Ayari (1998), Tahmineh Milani (2003) *Best Actress:

(1999),

(2001), Katayoun Riahi (2002)

Lifelong achievement Awards

: Roberto Rossellini, Prix Roberto Rossellini

(1992) *

: François Truffaut, François Truffaut Award (1992) *

: Honorary doctorate, École Normale Supérieure (2003) *

: Federico Fellini Gold Medal, UNESCO (1997) *

: Officier de la Légion d'honneur from Ministry of Culture and Art of France (1996) *

: Akira Kurosawa Honorary Award of the San Francisco International Film Festival (2000) *

: Henri Langlois, Prix Henri Langlois Prize (2006) *

: Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award (2016) *

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay (2011) * Behrouz Gharibpour: The Hans Christian Andersen Award (2002) *

: UNESCO Award (2006) *

: Podo Award, at Valdivia Film Festival (2007) *

: Sergei Parajanov, Parajanov Award for outstanding Artistic contribution to the world cinema (2006) *

: Federico Fellini Gold Medal UNESCO (2001) * Rakhshan Bani-Etemad:

(1998) *

: Federico Fellini Gold Medal UNESCO (2000) *

: The grand Jury prize American Film Institute (2000) Asghar Farhadi Cannes 2013

Bodil Awards

*2012:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

Satellite Award

*2011:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

César Award

*2012:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

Best Foreign Film,

David di Donatello Award

*2012:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

Best Foreign Film,

National Board of Review

*2011:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

Best Foreign Language Film,

*2013:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

Best Foreign Language Film, The Past (2013 film), The Past *2017:

Asghar Farhadi Asghar Farhadi ( fa, اصغر فرهادی, ; born 7 May 1972)Soureh Movie Database

Best Foreign Language Film, The Salesman (2016 film), The Salesman

Censorship

Although the Iranian film industry is flourishing, its filmmakers have operated under censorship rules, both before and after the revolution. Some Iranian films that have been internationally acclaimed are banned in Iran itself. Conversely, some Iranian filmmakers have faced hostility in other countries.

Censorship within Iran

Dariush Mehrjui's seminal film ''Gaav'' (''The Cow'', 1969) is now considered a pioneering work of the Iranian New Wave. The film was sponsored by the state, but they promptly banned it upon completion because its vision of rural life clashed with the progressive image of Iran that the Shah wished to project, while its prominence at international film festivals annoyed the regime.Steve Nottingham: Early Soviet Cinema
After the Iranian revolution, filmmakers experienced more restrictions. Since the mid-1980s, Iran's policy on film censorship has been changed in order to promote domestic film production: the strict censorship eased after December 1987. Old directors resurfaced and new ones emerged. However, the application of the rules is often inconsistent. Several films have been refused release inside Iran, but have been given export permits to enter international film festivals. Even here, the censorship is inconsistent: ''May Lady'' by Rakhshan Bani-Etemad (1998) got through but her contribution to ''Stories of Kish'' (1999) did not. All of Jafar Panahi's films have been banned from public theaters in Iran. ''Offside'' was relegated to "a guest slot" at the International Fajr Film Festival. "It was not shown as an important film", says Panahi. "They didn't give any value to it." Several of Mohsen Makhmalbaf's films are also banned in Iran. For example, ''Time of Love'' and ''The night of Zaiandeh-rood'' were banned for dealing with physical love and for raising doubts about the revolution. Iranian National Day of Cinema 2016 139506220347049468635216

Iranian National Day of Cinema 2016 139506220347049468635216

In 2001, feminist filmmaker Tahmineh Milani who made The Hidden Half was jailed because her movie was presumed anti-revolution (against the 1979 Islamic revolution). Many Iranian and international artists and filmmakers demanded her release. After 8 days of Imprisonment, Eventually President Khatami and the Minister of Culture were able to secure her release. In ''Nargess'', Rakhshan Bani-Etemad who is a pioneer among female Iranian film directors, pushes censorship codes to the limits, questioning the morals of society, showing desperate people overwhelmed by social conditions and a couple living together without being married. Abbas Kiarostami was significantly acclaimed in Europe but the Islamic government has refused screening of his films in his own country. Kiarostami's films have been banned in his country for more than 10 years. They are only accessible there through unauthorized DVDs and private screenings. Kiarostami is uncertain what the government dislikes about his films, saying "I think they don't understand my films and so they prevent them being shown just in case there is a message they don't want to get out

Despite this, Kiarostami has displayed an extraordinarily benign perspective, at least in recorded interviews: "The government is not in my way, but it is not assisting me either. We lead our separate lives." Despite the censorship, Kiarostami insists on working in Iran, saying "I think I really produce my best work in Iran." He believes that throughout the ages and all over the world censorship has existed in one form or another and artists have managed to live with this, saying "Today, the most important thing is that, although there is censorship, Iranian filmmakers are doing their job and they surpass the difficulties of censorship showing and discussing many things. So why ask me about what's not in the films? It has happened many times that a filmmaker hides a weakness under the excuse of censorship but difficulties have always existed in our lifestyle and our role is to surpass them." The director Mohammed Rasoulof, was convicted of charges relating to state security and anti-government propaganda. In 2009 and 2013 the number of political films and drama like ''Khers'', ''

'', ''The Wooden Bridge'', ''I am a Mother'' and ''Private Life'' (Zendegi Khosoosi) were Sanctioned.

House of Cinema temporary closure

In September 2011, House of Cinema issued a statement in support of several filmmakers detained for contact with the BBC. They questioned the legal basis for the arrests, pointing out that the government itself has contact with international news organizations. As a result, they received an official rebuke. In December 2011, Iran's Council of Public Culture declared its ‘House of Cinema’, the country's largest professional organisation for film makers, illegal. Authorities state the organization was shut down because of secret amendments to its charter. House of Cinema came under pressure when it challenged the detention of filmmakers accused of selling films to the BBC. In September 2013, House of Cinema has been reopened by the new government.

Hostility outside Iran

Given the tense relationship between Iran and the United States, Iranian filmmakers have faced hostility there, even if they have also been banned in their own country. Abbas Kiarostami was refused a Visa (document), visa to attend the New York Film Festival, Ohio University and Harvard University in 2002, in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, September 11 attacks. Festival director Richard Pena, who had invited him, said: "It's a terrible sign of what's happening in my country today that no one seems to realize or care about the kind of negative signal this sends out to the entire Muslim world". Finland, Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki boycotted the festival in protest. Similarly,

, winner of the Golden Plaque at the

, refused to accept the prize in protest of the U.S. government's refusal to issue him a visa. In 2007, Ahmed Issawi, the abashed Arab director of the New York South Asian Film Festival admitted that a conscious decision was made not to invite any Iranian filmmakers, saying "That's a territory I no longer want to tread [...] It's over. Given the whole thing with Iran—I refuse to approach it." Several other Iranian filmmakers have experienced hostilities from other countries. In November 2001 in Afghanistan, Taliban officials, who banned movies and most filmmaking, arrested three of

's crew members who were helping him secretly shoot Barefoot to Herat (film), Barefoot to Herat, a documentary on the country's internal refugees.

also survived a kidnapping in Afghanistan. In March 2007, a bomb explosion severely injuring several actors and crew members halted production in Afghanistan of ''Two Legged Horse'', the film by Iranian helmer

. Mohsen Makhmalbaf was the target of two unsuccessful murder attempts when he shot ''Kandahar (2001 film), Kandahar'' in Iran near the Afghan border in 2000, and his daughter Hana was twice the victim of a failed abduction attempt during the shooting of Samira's last film ''At Five in the Afternoon'' in the Afghan capital Kabul in 2002.

Arresting filmmakers

On 1 March 2010,

was arrested. He was taken from his home along with his wife Tahereh Saidi, daughter Solmaz Panahi, and 15 of his friends by plain-clothes officers to Evin Prison. Most were released 48 hours later,

and Mehdi Pourmoussa on 17 March 2010, but Panahi remained in Prison 209, section 209 inside Evin Prison. Panahi's arrest was confirmed by the government, but the charges were not specified. On April 14, 2010, Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance said that Panahi was arrested because he "tried to make a documentary about the unrest that followed the disputed 2009 Iranian election protests, 2009 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."On 18 May, Panahi sent a message to Abbas Baktiari, director of the Pouya Cultural Center, an Iranian-French cultural organization in Paris, stating that he was being mistreated in prison and his family threatened and as a result had begun a hunger strike. On 25 May, he was released on United States dollar, $200,000 bail while awaiting trial. On 20 December 2010, Panahi, after being convicted for "assembly and colluding with the intention to commit crimes against the country’s national security and propaganda against the Islamic Republic," the Islamic Revolutionary Court sentenced Panahi to six years imprisonment and a 20-year ban on making or directing any movies, writing screenplays, giving any form of interview with Iranian or foreign media as well as leaving the country except for Hajj holy pilgrimage to Mecca or medical treatment. Panahi's colleague,

also received six years imprisonment but was later reduced to one year on appeal. On October 15, 2011, a court in Tehran upheld Panahi's sentence and ban. Following the courts decision, Panahi was placed under house arrest. He has since been allowed to move more freely but he cannot travel outside Iran. Hossein Rajabian, an Iranian independent filmmaker, After finishing his first feature film, was arrested by Iranian security forces on 5 October 2013 outside his office [in Sari, Iran, Sari] alongside two musicians, and was transferred to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison where all three of them were held in solitary confinement for more than two months and were threatened with televised confessions. He was released on bail (around $66,000) in mid-December, pending trial. Two years later, his case was heard at Branch 28 of Tehran Revolutionary Court which was presided over by Judge Moghisseh (Summer 2015). He was sentenced to six years in prison and fines for pursuing illegal cinematic activities, launching propaganda against the establishment and hurling insults at sanctities. On appeal, his sentence was changed to three years imprisonment and three years of suspended jail and fines. Hossein Rajabian was sent to the ward 7 of Evin Prison in Tehran. After spending one third of his total period of imprisonment (that is 11 months), he went on hunger strike to protest against unjust trial, lack of medical facilities, and transfer of his brother to another ward called section 8 of the same prison. During the first hunger strike period, which lasted 14 days, he was transferred to hospital because of pulmonary infection and he could not continue his hunger strike because of the interference of the representative of the prosecutor who was sent as an intermediary. After some time, he sent an open letter to the judicial authorities of Iran and went again on strike which brought him the supports of international artists. After 36 days of hunger strike, he could convince the judicial authorities of Iran to review his case and grant him medical leave for the treatment of his left kidney suffered from infections and blood arising out of hunger strike. He, after a contentious struggle with the judicial officer of the prison was sent to the ward 8 for punishment.

Cinemapeople in the Iranian diaspora

Cinemapeople in the Iranian diaspora, such as

, Zuleikha Robinson, Nadia Bjorlin, Shirin Neshat, Adrian Pasdar, Amir Mokri, Bahar Soomekh, Amir Talai Catherine Bell (actress), Catherine Bell,

, Freema Agyeman, Sarah Shahi, Hughes brothers, Nasim Pedrad, Daryush Shokof, Bijan Daneshmand and Farhad Safinia are also popular.

Film institutes in Iran

Several institutes, both government run and private, provide formal education in various aspects of filmmaking. Some of the prominent ones include: Farabi Cinema Foundation, Hedayat Film Co, Sourehcinema, Documentary & Experimental Film Center, Filmiran, Kanoon Iran Novin, Boshra Film, Bamdad Film, TDH Film, Hilaj Film, Tgpco, Karname, Rasaneha, Nama Film company, AvinyFilm, 7spfs and Honar Aval.

Iranian film critics

Most famous of them like: Houshang Golmakani, Fereydoun Jeyrani, Parviz Davaei, Massoud Farasati, Abbas Baharloo, Hamid Reza Sadr, Cyrus Ghani, Javad Toosi, Negar Mottahedeh, Ahmad Talebinejad, Mohammad Tahami Nezhad, Ali Moallem and Parviz Nouri , Film, behrouz sebt rasoul

References

External links

IFILM TV - Iranian TV Channel on CinemaIRIB MEDIA TRADELovecinema - news cinema iranSoureh PicturesIranian Movies Forum

50 Essential Iranian Films

mooweex : Iranian Online Cinema

- ''CNN''
Encyclopedia of Iranian cinema
(in Persian)

Iranian New Wave (Post-1997 Cinema)

Iranian Cinema in Western eye

The history of Iranian cinema: Time for intellectuals

Iranian cinema & performance arts

Iran FilmIranian OSCAR: Annual Celebration of Iranian Cinema

Women of Iranian Popular CinemaNantes festival director calls Iranian cinema one of world’s bestHistory of Cinema in Tajikistan: The Iranian influence
(in Persian)
Review on Starting of Iranian Documentary Films
* Reza Talachian, 1984, ''A Brief Critical History of Iranian Feature Film (1896–1975)''
Iran Chamber Society

Film International, Iranian Film QuarterlyFilm International, Iranian Film QuarterlyFarabi Cinema FoundationPersian Movies
(2019 Persian Movies) {{DEFAULTSORT:Cinema Of Iran Cinema of Iran, Mass media in Iran by medium

History

Visual arts in Iran

Early Persian cinema

1930s and 1940s

Pre-revolutionary cinema, 1950s–1970s

Post-revolutionary cinema

Important figures

Directors

Actors

Actresses

Contemporary Iranian cinema

Commercial cinema in Iran

Iranian New Wave films

Iranian popular art films

Iranian women's cinema

Iranian war films

Iranian animations

Children and youth films

Timeline of Iranian films

Influence of Iranians on others' New Wave films

Music in Iranian cinema

Iranian international film festivals

Fajr Film Festival

NAM Filmmakers' Meeting

International Film Festival for Children and Youth

House of Cinema Ceremony

Noor Iranian Film Festival

Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco

London Iranian Film Festival

Roshd International Film Festival

Persian International Film Festival

Iranian Film Festival Zurich

Festival of Iranian Films in Prague

Iranian Film Festival Cologne

The Festival Cinema of Iran

Houston Iranian Film Festival

Tehran International Animation Festival

Other Festivals

International recognition of Iranian cinema

Cannes

Academy Awards (Oscars)

Golden Globe Awards

Venice

Berlin

Locarno

London

San Sebastian

Montreal

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Mar del Plata

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Goa

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Rotterdam

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Nantes

Sitges

Istanbul

Cairo

Lifelong achievement Awards

Bodil Awards

Satellite Award

César Award

David di Donatello Award

National Board of Review

Censorship

Censorship within Iran

House of Cinema temporary closure

Hostility outside Iran

Arresting filmmakers

Cinemapeople in the Iranian diaspora

Film institutes in Iran

Iranian film critics

See also

References