Maryam Zahirimehr ( fa, مریم ظهیری مهر; born in 1970 in

Rasht Rasht ( fa, رشت, Rašt ; glk, Rəšt, script=Latn; also romanized as Resht and Rast, and often spelt ''Recht'' in French and older German manuscripts) is the capital city of Gilan Province, Iran. Also known as the "City of Rain" (, ''Ŝahre B ...

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 ...

) is an Iranian screenwriter and film director living in the USA.

Biography

Maryam Zahirimehr is a native of Iran and was educated in the USA. She received her MFA in Photography and Integrated Media from

Lesley University Lesley University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. As of 2018-19 Lesley University enrolled 6,593 students (2,707 undergraduate and 3,886 graduate). History ...

in 2016.

Career

Her short film "Like Pain, Like Cigarette" was screened at

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 ...

Short Film Corner in 2017 and was nominated for the Best New England Film at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival in 2017. “Endless?” is her first feature as a writer-director-producer. The film tells the story of a grief-stricken mother in Iran who forced her daughter to marry and the relationship she develops with a young girl who is new to the village. The film addresses trauma related to a

dowry death Dowry deaths are deaths of married women who are murdered or driven to suicide over disputes about dowry. Dowry deaths are found predominantly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Iran.. Around 87,000 women were killed around the world last year ...

. “Endless?” won the best international feature award at RIFFA 2018, and also won the award for best experimental director from New York International Films Infest Festival. Her debut feature film also won the Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award from 17th

Boston International film festival The Boston International Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Boston, Massachusetts which showcases over 90 films annually. Established in 2003 by film producer Patrick Jerome, the festival features independent films from ...

in 2019.

Filmography

Awards For Endless ( 2018, Movie)

* 2017: Nominated for the Best New England Film at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival for "Like Pain, Like Cigarette" * 2018: Winner for the Best International Feature Award at RIFFA 2018, for ''Endless?'' * 2018: Winner for the Best Experimental Director from New York International Films Infest Festival (NYCIFIF), for ''Endless?'' * 2019: Winner for the Best Debutant Director award from 11th Jaipur International Film Festival for ''Endless?'' * 2018: Winner for the Best Independent Feature, Best Cinematography, Best Young Actress, Best Screenplay at Five Continents International Film Festival, Venezuela for ''Endless?'' * 2018: Nominee for the Best International Film at 24th

Kolkata International Film Festival The Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is an annual film festival held in Kolkata, India. Founded in 1995, it is the third oldest international film festival in India. The festival is organized by the West Bengal Film Centre under the W ...

, Innovation in Moving Images category for ''Endless?'' * 2019: Winner for the Outstanding achievement award in Film On Women at CICFF -

Calcutta International Cult Film Festival Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, commer ...

for ''Endless?'' * 2019: Winner For The Best Foreign Director Award at the Children's Film Festival of Bangladesh for ''Endless?'' * 2019: Winner of the Indie Spirit Special Recognition Award at

Boston International Film Festival The Boston International Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Boston, Massachusetts which showcases over 90 films annually. Established in 2003 by film producer Patrick Jerome, the festival features independent films from ...

for ''Endless?''

Awards, Forbidden Womanhood (2022, Movie)

* 2022: Won the Best foreign feature film award from

Arizona International Film Festival The Arizona International Film Festival is the oldest and longest running independent film festival in Arizona. Taking place yearly, film programs include a mix of shorts, children's films, feature-length films, documentaries and animation films. ...

2022 * 2022: Won the Best Screenplay award from International Filmmaker festival of New York 2022 * 2022: Nominated for the Best Foreign feature award at

Female Eye Film Festival The Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) is a competitive international film festival established in 2001. It is Toronto’s only international film festival geared specifically for women directors. History In 2001, Female Eye Film Festival was est ...

2022 * 2022: Won the honorable mention for the Best Foreign feature award at

2022

Personal life

She currently resides in Massachusetts.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zahirimehr, Maryam 1970 births Living people Film directors from Massachusetts Iranian emigrants to the United States Iranian film directors Lesley University alumni Iranian women film directors