Championing

Independent

Films

Directors

Arsalan

Amiri

22 April 1975

Director's

Biography

Arsalan Amiri, born in 1975 in Iranian Kurdistan, studied filmmaking at the Iranian Youth Cinema Society in Sanandaj-Kurdistan in 1995. He then obtained his BA in Film Directing from Tehran Art University, and his MA in Dramatic Literature from the University of Tehran. He started his filming career by directing, producing, and editing documentary films. Amiri worked as a screenwriter and editor for a number of TV Movies for Iran’s National Broadcasting Corporation (IRIB). These include The The Story of Davood and the Dove (2011), a film produced by Kianoush Ayari and directed by Ida Panahandeh. Amiri’s first feature film working as both co-screenwriter and editor was Nahid (2015), a film directed by Ida Panahandeh that was nominated for best screenplay in Iran’s Fajr International Film Festival (FIFF). Nahid was also screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded with the Prix de l’avenir. Villa Dwellers (2017), directed by Munir Gheidi, was his second movie as a screenwriter, which earned him a nomination for best screenplay in 2017’s Fajr Film Festival. This was followed by Israfil (2017), his third film working as co-screenwriter, which was directed by Ida Panahandeh and screened in the BFI London Film Festival in the same year. Later on, He worked again with Ida Panahandeh as a co-screenwriter and editor in The Nikaidos’ Fall (2018), which filmed in Japan. His cooperation with Ida Panahandeh continued in Titi (2020), which was screened in the 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival. Amiri made his directorial debut in Zalava  (2021), a film that was shot during the Corona Pandemic in a village near Sanandaj-Kurdistan. Zalava  garnered nominations in 10 sections in Fajr Film Festival in 2021, and won Best First Feature Director, Best Script, Best Supporting Actor, and special mention for its photography.

Filmography

Directing

Zalava“, 2021, 93 min
“The Better World”, Short Film, 2015
“The Safe Room”, 2010, 35 min
“The Restless Land”, 2006, 33min
“A Requiem For A Dream, 2005, 15min
“Review A War”, 2004, 25min
“Transfer” 2003, 19min

Screenplay and Edit

Zalava” Directed by Arsalan Amiri, 2021, 93min (co-writer)
“Punch Drunk” Directed by Adel Tabrizi 2021, 90min (co-writer)
“TiTi” Directed by Ida Panahandeh, 2020, 105min (co-writer & Edit)
“The Nikaidos’ Fall” Directed by Ida Panahandeh, 2018, 106min (co-writer)
“Israfil” Directed by Ida Panahandeh, 2017, 100min (co-writer)
“Villa Dwellers” Directed by Monir Gheidi, 2017, 95min (co-writer)
“Nahid” Directed by Ida Panahandeh, 2015, 105min (co-writer & Edit)
“From The Southeast” Directed by Ida Panhandeh, 2013, 90min (co-writer)
“The Lost Honor of Mr. Sadeghi” Directed by Ida Panahandeh, 2012, 90min (co-writer)
“The Story of David & Dove” Directed by Ida Panahandeh, 2010, 90min (co-writer)
“Winter Vases” Directed by Ida Panahandeh, 2009, 48min (co-writer)