Samira Makhmalbaf

Samira Makhmalbaf is an acclaimed Iranian filmmaker known for her impactful dramas, receiving international recognition at major film festivals. After directing her acclaimed debut film, ‘The Apple,’ in 1998, Samira Makhmalbaf became one of the youngest directors to participate in the official section of the Cannes Film Festival, earning significant critical praise, including from Jean-Luc Godard. ‘The Apple’ went on to be screened at over 100 international film festivals and distributed in more than 30 countries. Makhmalbaf’s early career also included starring in Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s film, ‘The Cyclist,’ in 1987.

She dedicated five years to studying cinema at the Makhmalbaf Film House before furthering her education in Psychology and Law at Roehampton University in London. Following the success of her debut, Makhmalbaf directed ‘Blackboards’ in 1999, a drama set in Iranian Kurdistan. This film was selected for the official competition at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, where it received the coveted Special Jury Award. ‘Blackboards’ also garnered significant international recognition, including the ‘Federico Fellini Honor Award’ from UNESCO and the ‘Francois Truffaut Award’ from Italy, achieving considerable box office success in countries such as France.

Her fourth feature film, ‘Two-Legged Horse,’ also filmed in Afghanistan, was released in 2007 and was awarded the prestigious Grand Jury Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain. Throughout her career, Samira Makhmalbaf has served as a jury member at several prestigious international film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, and Moscow. Her distinct body of work is characterized by a compelling docu-fiction hybrid aesthetic, frequently employing non-professional actors and street-level realism to explore resonant themes of social justice, women’s rights, and education, often against backdrops of adversity and conflict.