Mehrdad Oskouei is an Iranian film director and producer whose works has been critically acclaimed and screened at international film festivals. He is best known for his documentaries which explore the complex issues of his home country, Iran.
Mehrdad was born in 1977 in Tehran, Iran. He started his education in the field of photography, and then moved to film studies at University of Tehran. He wrote his first feature film in 2004, called ‘A House on 41st Street’.
He began his career making short films, such as ‘The Last Word’ (2005), and ‘The Silence’ (2006). In 2007, his documentary ‘Starless Dreams’ was released and was awarded at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival. This was followed by ‘The Last Days of Winter’ (2009) and ‘The Mute’ (2010).
His latest documentary, ‘The Sun Behind the Clouds’ (2015), was the winner of the Best Documentary Feature at the 2016 Asian Film Awards, and was also nominated for the Grand Jury Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
The films of Mehrdad Oskouei have been praised for their honest and intimate look at the lives of people in Iran. He has used his films to explore the complexities of the relationship between individuals and the state, as well as issues around gender, religion, and political oppression.
Mehrdad is a passionate advocate for freedom of expression, and believes in using film as a tool for social change. He has been an outspoken critic of the Iranian government, and has been an important voice in the international film community.
Mehrdad is currently working on a new feature film, as well as directing a documentary about the Iranian women’s football team. He is an inspiring and influential filmmaker, and his work continues to be celebrated around the world.
