Despite severe government restrictions, Iranian cinema has continued to flourish through the years, both artistically and commercially. Worldwide Iranian filmmakers include Abbas Kiarostami (known for his documentary-fiction work, and 2010 “Certified Copy”), Jafar Panahi (neorealist filmmaker, known for “This Is Not A Film”), Mohsen and Samira Makhmalbaf (father and daughter filmmakers), Asgar Farhadi (Oscar win for “A Separation”), and Dariush Mehrjui (known for his political symbolic films)
According to Indiewire, “[Iranian cinema] opens up an incredibly rich history of filmmaking whose constant potency — especially given the country’s severe restrictive policies on culture – make it one of the major epicenters of Middle Eastern cinema.”
So what about new, emerging Iranian filmmakers? The piece showcases new works such as: Ida Panahandeh’s “Nahid,” Hossein Shahabi’s “The Bright Day,” Safi Yazdanian’s “What Time Is It In Your World?” and Ali Ahmadzadeh’s “Atomic Heart.”
