Abbas Kiarostami was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1940. He graduated from university with a degree in fine arts before starting work as a graphic designer. He then joined the Center for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, where he started a film section, and this started his career as a filmmaker at the age of 30. Since then he has made many movies and has become one of the most important figures in contemporary Iranian film. He is also a major figure in the arts world, and has had numerous gallery exhibitions of his photography, short films and poetry. He is an iconic figure for what he has done, and he has achieved it all by believing in the arts and the creativity of his mind.
Received the UNESCO Fellini-Medal in Gold for his achievements in film, freedom, peace, and tolerance.
Professor at La Femis (Paris)
Knows artist Behzad Yahaghi.
His film Khane-ye doust kodjast? was shown at the Channel 4 premiere for the Iranian film season.
Retrospective at the 28th So Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil
Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993
Was the president of the Camera dor Jury in Cannes Film Festival 2005.
Lives in Tehran.
Son Ahmad was born in 1971, son Bahman was born in 1978.
Jean-Luc Godard has said, "Film begins with D.W. Griffith and ends with Abbas Kiarostami." According to Martin Scorsese , "Kiarostami represents the highest level of artistry in the cinema." When these words are quoted in front of Kiarostami, he winces most charmingly. "This admiration is perhaps more appropriate after I am dead," he says.
Upon accepting a prize at the Cannes Film Festival for Tam e guilass , he received a hug and kiss from presenter Catherine Deneuve. Since public physical contacts between members of the opposite sexes, who are unrelated to one another, are banned by the Islamic government in Iran, Kiarostamis home country, he didnt return to his Tehran home for a week.
Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1995.
Recipient of the Lifetime Achievment Award at the 2005 Yerevan International Film Festival, which later became the Sergei Parajanov Award and was presented to Mohsen Makhmalbaf in 2006.
He was one of the guests of honor at the Midnightsun Filmfestival in Sodankyl in 2007.
He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film culture.
Head of Jury of Montral World Film Festival in 2000.
On 9 March 2010 published an open letter in a Tehran newspaper, calling for the release of two directors, detained by the authorities on 1 March 2010. "Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof are two filmmakers of the Iranian independent cinema, a cinema that for the past quarter of a century has served as an essential cultural element in expanding the name of this country across the globe. They belong to an expanded world culture, and are a part of international cinematic culture." Rasoulof was released from ward 209 of the Evin prison on 17 March 2010.
Interviewed in "World Directors in Dialogue" by Bert Cardullo (Scarecrow Press, 2011).
(May 2009) In London, directing a performance of Mozarts Cosi Fan Tutte
(November 2012) In Baku, Azerbaijan: Provided master class during the 8th START International Youth Film Festival
Retrospective at the 54th Cartagena Film Festival (2014 edition), Colombia.
His film, Close-up , ranked #42 in British Film Institutes The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time in 2012.
In order to support his studies, worked as a traffic policeman.
According to himself, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Andrei Tarkovsky, Federico Fellini and Theo Angelopoulos are on a similar wavelength as him.
Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2016. Ironically, he died a few days after his invitation was officially announced.
He has two sons, Ahmad and Bahman, from his marriage to Parvin Amir-Gholi, which ended in divorce.
In addition to making films, Abbas Kiarostami wrote several books of poetry, had his photographs exhibited and directed a production of Mozarts "Cos Fan Tutte" in Aix-en-Provence, France, in 2008.
Member of the Cinfondation and Short Films jury at the 55th Cannes International Film Festival in 2002.
In this type of cinema, whether working with actors or non-actors, as,much as you do direct them, if you allow yourself to be directed by,them, then the end result will be much more pleasing. The real and,individual strengths of the actors is allowed to be expressed and is,something that does affect the audience very deeply.
The Iranian government as a whole has no relationship with my films.
Maybe more than a teller, I am a story listener. I really enjoy,listening to stories. I remember them and keep them in my mind. All of,my films are a collection of small stories that have been told to me.
In the total darkness, poetry is still there, and it is there for you.
The world is my workshop. It is not my home. .
![With the Wind [Persian / English dual language] - Abbas Kiarostami](https://media.celebri.com/books/24/9780990530824.jpg)