Amir Naderi

Today Iranian cinema is one of the most highly regarded national cinemas in the world, regularly winning festival awards and critical acclaim for films which combine remarkable artistry and social relevance. Iran: A Cinematographic Revolution traces the development of this film industry, which has always been closely intertwined with the country's tumultuous political history, from the decades-long reign of Reza Shah Pahlevi and his son, the rise of Khomeini and the birth of the Islamic Republic, the seizure by militants of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, and the devastating war with Iraq.

Iranian film director Amir Naderi talks to Zar Amir Ebrahimi about his career in this documentary directed and produced by Ebrahimi and broadcast by BBC World Service and BBC Persian. Amir Naderi is one of the most influential figures of Iranian modern cinema. He was born in 1945 in the Persian Gulf port of Abadan. Orphaned at an early age and living the life of a street urchin, Naderi had to survive by selling ice, working as a shoeshine boy and recycling empty beer bottles. He developed his knowledge of cinema by watching films in the theaters where he worked at a very young age. He began his career by taking pictures for some notable Iranian features. In the 1970’s, he started directing his own films, and made some of the most important movies of the New Iranian Cinema. After moving to New York in the early 90’s, Amir Naderi continued to make films. They have premiered at the Venice, Cannes, Tribeca, and Sundance Film Festivals.

In the memory of Jamshid Alvandi

The film takes place away from the glittering strip of mega casinos, but the greed of Sin City is just as pervasive on the desert outskirts. This is where a happy family learns of a forgotten fortune that may be buried beneath their home. Their lives are turned upside down. A sophisticated study of just how far people are able and willing to go if faced with the tempting prospect of easily acquired wealth.

An unfinished short film by Amir Naderi

An unfinished short film by Amir Naderi

It all began with "Black Friday" - a massacre on Sept 8, 1978, by the Shah's police. Official pronouncements put the death toll at 200, but the next day the people of Teheran witnessed how thousands of bodies were brought to Behast Zahra cemetery. Yet even this wasn't the whole extent of the tragedy. As the families continued looking for their relatives they began to realize just how many had disappeared. Over the next few months the massacres continued, with many thousands more disappearing, until February 11th, 1979, victory day for the Revolution. Naderi's film follows this search for the missing, through which the terrible truth is gradually revealed. The film is not only a documentary but also a document of a horrible crime.

A woman continuously solves crossword puzzles everywhere she goes; in subway trains, on buses, and on the streets of New York City.

Ali is a young boxer pursuing his dream of becoming a champion, but he's soon approached by a gangster. He gets involved--agreeing to follow their terms. He wins boxing matches and everything is going okay until they order him to lose a match.

Set in the heart of the Middle-Eastern community in modern-day Vancouver, Kayan is a multifarious story of belonging, loyalty and love. Hanin, a Lebanese independent single mother of two, struggles to keep her restaurant, Kayan, afloat. Unexpected revelations in her private life coincide with complications in the lives of her employees and customers. Things take a twisted turn

Shuji is an uncompromising young filmmaker at odds with Japanese society. One day he learns that his loan shark brother, who had helped to finance his films, has been executed by his own yakuza gang for failing to repay his debts.

A young orphan named Amiro lives alone in an abandoned tanker in the Iranian port city of Abadan. He survives by shining shoes, selling water, and collecting deposit bottles. Although he sometimes finds himself at odds with both adults and competing older kids, he finds solace in dreams about departing cargo ships and airplanes—and by running.

A young teenager returns home after an absence to find his village in Iran deserted because of an incredibly severe drought. He begins a search to find his family, traveling through an amazingly bleak and desolate landscape. Primarily an essay on the issue of humans vs. nature, the film is of interest for technical and cultural reasons.

The film portrays the search by an 11-year old deaf and mute boy for an audio-cassette his mother recorded shortly before her death.

This film, based on a well-known novel of the same name by Sadegh Chooback, is about a wronged man seeking revenge. Director Amir Naderi's inspiration for making the film was one of his childhood heroes, the legendary Zar Mohammad, who waged a one-man war against four swindlers and provoked wide spread popular sentiment against tyranny.

This film, based on a well-known novel of the same name by Sadegh Chooback, is about a wronged man seeking revenge. Director Amir Naderi's inspiration for making the film was one of his childhood heroes, the legendary Zar Mohammad, who waged a one-man war against four swindlers and provoked wide spread popular sentiment against tyranny.

Three NYC stories at a climax. Stories about breaking up, losing, leaving, giving away... the things or people you love, you live with, you depend on, which formed your past... The stories are about how difficult this is, how terrifying and how frightening. Yet, you HAVE to do what you have to do. The three girls are met at the turning point of their lives. The film is wonderful written, with few words and a great, exciting pace (though it takes its time and lot of it). Stop: there may be a lot of words, sometimes, but what's important is between-the-lines. The performances are marvellous. Style and location (all shot "on location") remind of this specific independent NYC style of Jarmusch, Poe, Seidelman, Silver, etc.

It all began with "Black Friday" - a massacre on Sept 8, 1978, by the Shah's police. Official pronouncements put the death toll at 200, but the next day the people of Teheran witnessed how thousands of bodies were brought to Behast Zahra cemetery. Yet even this wasn't the whole extent of the tragedy. As the families continued looking for their relatives they began to realize just how many had disappeared. Over the next few months the massacres continued, with many thousands more disappearing, until February 11th, 1979, victory day for the Revolution. Naderi's film follows this search for the missing, through which the terrible truth is gradually revealed. The film is not only a documentary but also a document of a horrible crime.

The story of George Murphy, a laid-off newspaperman who has 24 hours to come up with the back rent he owes or be put out in the street. Desperately, he sets out to find an old friend who might help, yet when he discovers that his old friend has seemingly disappeared, George's search begins to take on a whole different meaning.

The story of George Murphy, a laid-off newspaperman who has 24 hours to come up with the back rent he owes or be put out in the street. Desperately, he sets out to find an old friend who might help, yet when he discovers that his old friend has seemingly disappeared, George's search begins to take on a whole different meaning.

Made for the Venice Film Festival's 70th anniversary, seventy filmmakers made a short film between 60 and 90 seconds long on their interpretation of the future of cinema.

Set on the southern coast of Iran, "Harmonica" begins as a young boy receives a musical present from abroad. Fascinated and envious, his friends make him the leader of the pack, as they compete for the privilege of holding the harmonica or even blowing a few notes, until the games and horseplay begin to take on a sinister edge.

Inspired by Iranian folk tales and reputed as the first Iranian musical movie, the film follows the story of the lazybones congenitally bald Hassan who is tricked out of the house by his mother. Then he learns about Chelgis, a girl kidnapped and kept by an ogre in his enchanted garden. Smitten by her beauty, Hassan tries to find a way to save her. In a public bathroom, he encounters his doppelganger. The doppelganger promises to fulfill his wishes in return for a fraction of his life. But when fulfilled, his wishes do not emerge the same he envisioned…

A dialogue-free film that follows a boy in southern Iran whose daily chore is bringing an elegant glass bowl to get filled with ice, and then returning home.

After his family is evicted from their home, proud and desperate construction worker Dennis Nash tries to win his home back by striking a deal with the devil and working for Rick Carver, the corrupt real estate broker who evicted him.

The hard daily life of a kid working in a photo shop while trying to get closer to the girl he likes.

The hard daily life of a kid working in a photo shop while trying to get closer to the girl he likes.

A young orphan named Amiro lives alone in an abandoned tanker in the Iranian port city of Abadan. He survives by shining shoes, selling water, and collecting deposit bottles. Although he sometimes finds himself at odds with both adults and competing older kids, he finds solace in dreams about departing cargo ships and airplanes—and by running.

Two women escaping a catastrophe look for salvation in sound and nature.

Many years ago, in a nearly deserted town at the foot of a mountain, lives Agostino with his wife Nina and his son Giovanni. The mountain rises up like a wall blocking out the sun that never reaches their fields below, now reduced to just stones and underbrush. Agostino, even though everything suggests him to leave, decides that the destiny of his family is there, among the peaks. He is not only driven by stubbornness, but by the certainty that our roots cannot betray us and that with the help of our spirit we can bring the sun on every destiny.

Many years ago, in a nearly deserted town at the foot of a mountain, lives Agostino with his wife Nina and his son Giovanni. The mountain rises up like a wall blocking out the sun that never reaches their fields below, now reduced to just stones and underbrush. Agostino, even though everything suggests him to leave, decides that the destiny of his family is there, among the peaks. He is not only driven by stubbornness, but by the certainty that our roots cannot betray us and that with the help of our spirit we can bring the sun on every destiny.

After getting involved in a brawl with three brothers, Ali accidently kills one of them and runs for his life.

Three friends organize the burglary of a jewelry shop, but greed, betrayal, and revenge quickly overcome their friendship.

Two women escaping a catastrophe look for salvation in sound and nature.

A story that drifts between the lives of five generations of mothers and daughters, 'The Neighbor' takes its audience on an unexpected journey. At the center is a the story of Shirin, a dancer with unfulfilled dreams, and her fateful connection with her next door neighbor, Leila, a young woman with a small secret. Shirin struggles to come to terms with her estranged mother as Leila struggles to reconcile present life circumstances with her yearnings for a better future.

Two estranged, twenty-something sisters reunite five years after the death of their parents, and soon revisit their treacherous history.

The film portrays the search by an 11-year old deaf and mute boy for an audio-cassette his mother recorded shortly before her death.

The film portrays the search by an 11-year old deaf and mute boy for an audio-cassette his mother recorded shortly before her death.

Three NYC stories at a climax. Stories about breaking up, losing, leaving, giving away... the things or people you love, you live with, you depend on, which formed your past... The stories are about how difficult this is, how terrifying and how frightening. Yet, you HAVE to do what you have to do. The three girls are met at the turning point of their lives. The film is wonderful written, with few words and a great, exciting pace (though it takes its time and lot of it). Stop: there may be a lot of words, sometimes, but what's important is between-the-lines. The performances are marvellous. Style and location (all shot "on location") remind of this specific independent NYC style of Jarmusch, Poe, Seidelman, Silver, etc.

Three NYC stories at a climax. Stories about breaking up, losing, leaving, giving away... the things or people you love, you live with, you depend on, which formed your past... The stories are about how difficult this is, how terrifying and how frightening. Yet, you HAVE to do what you have to do. The three girls are met at the turning point of their lives. The film is wonderful written, with few words and a great, exciting pace (though it takes its time and lot of it). Stop: there may be a lot of words, sometimes, but what's important is between-the-lines. The performances are marvellous. Style and location (all shot "on location") remind of this specific independent NYC style of Jarmusch, Poe, Seidelman, Silver, etc.

At a theater readying for digital conversion, 22-year-old projectionist Mitch inserts himself into the tragic love story that unspools on the screen. He sets out to find the missing woman in a dreamscape Los Angeles, in a film about love, obsession and movies.

Many years ago, in a nearly deserted town at the foot of a mountain, lives Agostino with his wife Nina and his son Giovanni. The mountain rises up like a wall blocking out the sun that never reaches their fields below, now reduced to just stones and underbrush. Agostino, even though everything suggests him to leave, decides that the destiny of his family is there, among the peaks. He is not only driven by stubbornness, but by the certainty that our roots cannot betray us and that with the help of our spirit we can bring the sun on every destiny.

In an oppressive future, a 'fireman' whose duty is to destroy all books begins to question his task.

A young teenager returns home after an absence to find his village in Iran deserted because of an incredibly severe drought. He begins a search to find his family, traveling through an amazingly bleak and desolate landscape. Primarily an essay on the issue of humans vs. nature, the film is of interest for technical and cultural reasons.

Set on the southern coast of Iran, "Harmonica" begins as a young boy receives a musical present from abroad. Fascinated and envious, his friends make him the leader of the pack, as they compete for the privilege of holding the harmonica or even blowing a few notes, until the games and horseplay begin to take on a sinister edge.

The film follows a young boy and a soldier during the Iran-Iraq War.

Shuji is an uncompromising young filmmaker at odds with Japanese society. One day he learns that his loan shark brother, who had helped to finance his films, has been executed by his own yakuza gang for failing to repay his debts.

Shuji is an uncompromising young filmmaker at odds with Japanese society. One day he learns that his loan shark brother, who had helped to finance his films, has been executed by his own yakuza gang for failing to repay his debts.

The life and work of Arthur Penn, whose films like "Bonnie and Clyde" helped shape the conversation around violence in America and its movies.

Mahmoud Dowlatabadi is one of the most prolific Iranian novelists. In this beautiful, poetic portrait, gracefully crafted by his filmmaker daughter Sara Dolatabadi, he reflects on his life throughout the turbulent 20th century. Meanwhile, his daughter manages to create her own images of a father who is full of luminous ideas, yet also somewhat peculiar and lonely.

At a theater readying for digital conversion, 22-year-old projectionist Mitch inserts himself into the tragic love story that unspools on the screen. He sets out to find the missing woman in a dreamscape Los Angeles, in a film about love, obsession and movies.

A woman continuously solves crossword puzzles everywhere she goes; in subway trains, on buses, and on the streets of New York City.

A woman continuously solves crossword puzzles everywhere she goes; in subway trains, on buses, and on the streets of New York City.

A woman continuously solves crossword puzzles everywhere she goes; in subway trains, on buses, and on the streets of New York City.

At a theater readying for digital conversion, 22-year-old projectionist Mitch inserts himself into the tragic love story that unspools on the screen. He sets out to find the missing woman in a dreamscape Los Angeles, in a film about love, obsession and movies.

At a theater readying for digital conversion, 22-year-old projectionist Mitch inserts himself into the tragic love story that unspools on the screen. He sets out to find the missing woman in a dreamscape Los Angeles, in a film about love, obsession and movies.

The film takes place away from the glittering strip of mega casinos, but the greed of Sin City is just as pervasive on the desert outskirts. This is where a happy family learns of a forgotten fortune that may be buried beneath their home. Their lives are turned upside down. A sophisticated study of just how far people are able and willing to go if faced with the tempting prospect of easily acquired wealth.

The film takes place away from the glittering strip of mega casinos, but the greed of Sin City is just as pervasive on the desert outskirts. This is where a happy family learns of a forgotten fortune that may be buried beneath their home. Their lives are turned upside down. A sophisticated study of just how far people are able and willing to go if faced with the tempting prospect of easily acquired wealth.

The film takes place away from the glittering strip of mega casinos, but the greed of Sin City is just as pervasive on the desert outskirts. This is where a happy family learns of a forgotten fortune that may be buried beneath their home. Their lives are turned upside down. A sophisticated study of just how far people are able and willing to go if faced with the tempting prospect of easily acquired wealth.

The film takes place away from the glittering strip of mega casinos, but the greed of Sin City is just as pervasive on the desert outskirts. This is where a happy family learns of a forgotten fortune that may be buried beneath their home. Their lives are turned upside down. A sophisticated study of just how far people are able and willing to go if faced with the tempting prospect of easily acquired wealth.

An anthology of one-minute films created by 51 international filmmakers on the theme of the death of cinema. Intended as an ode to 35mm, the film was screened one time only on a purpose-built 20x12 meter public cinema screen in the Port of Tallinn, Estonia, on 22 December 2011. A special projector was constructed for the event which allowed the actual filmstrip to be burnt at the same time as the film was shown.

A young teenager returns home after an absence to find his village in Iran deserted because of an incredibly severe drought. He begins a search to find his family, traveling through an amazingly bleak and desolate landscape. Primarily an essay on the issue of humans vs. nature, the film is of interest for technical and cultural reasons.

REQUIEM begins as Nasrollah, just released from prison, returns home to discover that his mother has died while he was incarcerated. Nasrollah hits the streets looking for work, but finding none he resumes his previous life as a street peddler. Casting his lot with two other peddlers, with whom he becomes roommates, for a while Nasrollah seems to achieve once again a sense of community and belonging.

Made for the Venice Film Festival's 70th anniversary, seventy filmmakers made a short film between 60 and 90 seconds long on their interpretation of the future of cinema.

An autobiographical piece made for a 2018 retrospective of his career.

Three friends organize the burglary of a jewelry shop, but greed, betrayal, and revenge quickly overcome their friendship.

After getting involved in a brawl with three brothers, Ali accidently kills one of them and runs for his life.

A short film made for “Venezia 70 - Future Reloaded”. A desert landscape, dried-up fishes and a film studio.