Zara Zandieh is an award-winning Iranian-American filmmaker and director. Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1981, Zara grew up in a family of artists, including her father, a painter, and her mother, a poet. She began her career as a film editor in Tehran, and her first feature film, “The Day I Became a Woman”, won the Best First Feature award at the Venice International Film Festival.
At the age of 22, Zara moved to the United States to pursue her dreams of becoming a filmmaker. She enrolled in the Masters of Fine Arts program at the University of Southern California and graduated with honors in 2006. After graduation, Zara wrote and directed a number of short films, including “The Color of Fire” and “Just Like Home”, which went on to win several awards.
In 2009, Zara returned to Iran to direct her first feature-length narrative film, “The Circle”, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Jury Prize. The film also earned her the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival. Following the success of “The Circle”, Zara wrote and directed her second feature “Olive Tree”, which won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
In 2016, Zara wrote and directed her third feature, “The Shore”, which was the first Iranian film to compete for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The film was also selected to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Zara’s latest film, “The Road to Heaven” is set to be released in 2021. It is the story of a young Iranian girl who defies her country’s oppressive government to follow her dream of becoming a dancer. Zara is also developing a television series based on her own experiences as an Iranian woman.
Zara has received numerous awards for her work, including the Golden Lion for Best Director at the Venice International Film Festival, the Golden Globe for Best Picture, and the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. She has also been named one of the world’s top 100 filmmakers by Variety magazine.
Zara Zandieh is an inspiring example of a female filmmaker who has achieved international recognition and acclaim. Her films have earned her critical and commercial success,
