MohammadReza Akbari is an Iranian director, producer, and screenwriter who has been at the helm of several critically acclaimed feature films and documentaries. He is best known for his feature film "Asphyxia," which won the Best Feature Film Award at the 2016 Tehran International Short Film Festival.
Born in Tehran in 1977, Akbari started his filmmaking career at the age of 18 when he wrote and directed his first short film, “Unspoken.” In 2005, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in filmmaking from the Iran Broadcasting University.
Akbari's first feature film, “Asphyxia,” was released in 2015 and received numerous awards and accolades. The film follows the story of a young woman who is struggling to overcome her addiction to drugs. It was praised for its intense and moving performances and was nominated for several awards at the Tehran International Short Film Festival.
Akbari has also directed several documentaries, such as “Lost in the Desert” and “The Long Road,” which were both released in 2017. These films explore the difficulties of being a refugee in Iran and the struggle to find a new home. Akbari's documentary “The Life of an Iranian Refugee” won the Best Documentary Award at the 2018 Tehran International Documentary Film Festival.
Akbari is also a producer, having produced films such as “The Price of Freedom” and “The Right to Love.” He is currently working on his next feature film, “The Sea of Clouds,” which is set to be released in 2021.
Akbari is a passionate filmmaker whose work has been widely praised for its powerful and thought-provoking stories. He is a strong advocate for social justice and is committed to telling stories that shine a light on the struggles of the marginalized.
