The cinema of Iran, or of Persia, refers to the film industry in Iran. Particularly Iranian art films have garnered international recognition. Iranian films are usually written and spoken in the Persian language.
Iran's annual Fajr International Film Festival, or Fajr Film Festival, has been held every February and April in Tehran since 1982. The festival is supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. It takes place on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The awards are the Iranian equivalent to the American Academy Awards.
The history of Iranian animation, which began in its modern form in the mid 20th century in Iran, can also be traced back to the Bronze Age.
Mesih, more commonly and officially referred to as The Messiah, but also referred to as 'Jesus', Good Tidings of the SaviorJesus, the Spirit of God is a 2007 film from the Islamic Republic of Iran, directed by Nader Talebzadeh (1953—2022), depicting the life of Jesus from an Islamic perspective, based not only on the canonical gospels, but also the Qur'an, and, it would seem, the Gospel of Barnabas. The latter conforms to the Islamic interpretation of the origins of Christianity. Iranian actor Ahmad Soleimani Nia plays the role of Jesus. Some Islamic organizations cite it in support of the Islamic view of Jesus.
Mania Akbari is an Iranian filmmaker, artist, writer and actress whose works explore women's rights, marriage, sexual identity, disease and body image. Her style, in contrast to the long tradition of melodrama in Iranian cinema, is rooted in the visual arts and autobiography. Because of the taboo themes frankly discussed in her films and her opposition to censorship, she is considered one of the most controversial filmmakers in Iran. As an actress, she is best known for playing the lead role in Abbas Kiarostami's Ten (2002).
Rakhshān Banietemad is an internationally and critically acclaimed Iranian film director and screenwriter who is widely considered a premier female director and her films have been praised at international festivals as well as being popular with Iranian critics and audiences. Her title as "First Lady of Iranian Cinema" is not only a reference to her prominence as a filmmaker, but also connotes her social role of merging politics and family in her work. Her signature style is that she focuses on a character representing a part of society to explore it while staying objectively neutral. The first period of Banietemad's cinematic activity originates from dark humor. Still, in the second period of her work, dark humor gives way to serious and influential films, and deeper and broader issues are addressed. Banietemad has a more realistic view of life.
Malek Shafi’i is a film director, producer, festival organiser, and human rights activist from Afghanistan.
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 Farhadi. It focuses on an Iranian middle-class couple who separate, the disappointment and desperation suffered by their daughter due to the egotistical disputes and separation of her parents, and the conflicts that arise when the husband hires a lower-class caregiver for his elderly father, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.
Esmael Barari ;, is an Iranian filmmaker, film director, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. He is director of World Iranian Film Center, a member of The Union of Iranian Cinema Producers and a member of international jury of Mostra Valencia Film Festival.
Nader Talebzadeh, also known as Nader Ordoubadi, was an Iranian conservative journalist and filmmaker.
The Gardener is a documentary film by Mohsen Makhmalbaf. It had its Asian premiere at Busan International Film Festival, its European premiere at Rotterdam International Film Festival, and North American premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival. It is the first film in decades to be made by an Iranian filmmaker in Israel. The film has been shown in more than 20 film festivals and won the Best Documentary award from Beirut International Film Festival and the special Maverick Award at the Motovun Film Festival in Croatia. The film was selected as "Critic's Pick of the Week" by New York Film Critics Circle, "Best of the Fest" at Busan Film Festival by The Hollywood Reporter, and "Top Ten Films" at Mumbai Film Festival by Times of India, and its script was added to the Library of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Game Over is 2013 Iranian animated short film directed by Seyed Mohsen Pourmohseni Shakib. It is the director's second short animation. Game Over currently has distribution with IndieFlix online video streaming service.
Muhammad: The Messenger of God is a 2015 Iranian Islamic epic film directed by Majid Majidi and co-written with Kambuzia Partovi. The film, set in the sixth century, revolves around the childhood of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
The National Hassanat short film festival in Esfahan was primarily established in Esfahan in 2010, with the aim to promote the charity and benefaction culture by Hassanat Islamic Cultural Promotion and Development Center that is one of the active NGOs in Esfahan with over five years of history behind it The main aim of this festival is encouraging young filmmakers to deal with the subjects such as humanity, helping the humankind and regenerating good but forgotten traditions of the community. Submission of above 4000 short feature films, documentaries, scripts, animations and video clips from over 2000 young filmmakers and play writers of the country during 4 years of holding this festival indicate the attention and considerations of the artists in the community towards this prominent humanitarian and morale subject. Holding training courses in critic framework and analysis of the works by the great Iranian cinematographers and screening selected films of different periods of the festival during the year show the consideration of the authorities holding the festival towards promoting the knowledge level of the young filmmakers and screenwriters of the society. One of the considerable points of this festival could be the memorial ceremonies for the beneficial artists of the country.
The 27th Fajr International Film Festival held from 31 January to 10 February 2009 in Tehran, Iran.
The 16th Fajr International Film Festival held 1–11 February 1998 in Tehran, Iran.
Soheil Beiraghi is an Iranian independent film director, screenwriter and producer. He has directed the award-winning films I (Me), Cold Sweat and Popular. He started out on his filmmaking career in 2005 as an assistant director in a number of cinematic productions. His ten-year experience of working as an assistant director and planner, paved the way for the making of his first feature film I (Me). Beiraghi has also a record on play writing and theater directing.
Cold Sweat is a 2018 Iranian film written and directed by Soheil Beiraghi. The film screened for the first time at the 36th Fajr Film Festival and received 3 Awards and 3 nominations.
Tehran International Film Festival was an annual festival that was held in Iran before the Iranian Revolution.
Asghar Abbasi is an Iranian Short Film Director, Writer and Producer. He was born in 1980 in Yazd, Iran. Abbasi is the winner of the golden lantern statue for the best director for the film A dream that is not white from Ammar International Popular Film Festival.
