Abbas Kiarostami (June 22th, 1940, Teheran, Iran - July 4th, 2016, Paris, France)

Abbas Kiarostami (Teheran, 1940) studied art at the faculty of Fine Arts in Teheran. He managed to graduate after thirteen years, but realised that he was not an artist and began to search for new avenues.

Meanwhile, he worked for the traffic police, as a graphic designer and director for short film adverts. In 1969 he was asked to establish the film department at Kanun, the Institute for intellectual development of children and adolescents, which went on to become the fundamental aggregation point for new Iranian film production.

“But in all, I don't like to engage in telling stories. I don't like to arouse the viewer emotionally or give him advice. I don't like to belittle him or burden him with a sense of guilt. These are the things I don't like in the movies.”

Kiarostami made his first pieces there up until 1992, with the exception of Gozaresh. His work has been screened at the major international festivals, and he received his first most important recognition with Khaneh-ye doost kojast?, winning the Pardo di bronzo at Locarno in 1987.

In 1992 Va Zendegi edameh darad won the Rossellini Prize at Cannes. In 1995 he was part of the jury at the Venice Film Festival and the following year presented Ta’m-e guilass which in 1997 won the Palme d’or ex aequo at Cannes.

Born in Teheran on June 22, 1940, Abbas Kiarostami showed an early talent for drawing. He took part in a graphic art competition and received a scholarship. At the age of 18, he left home.

From 1960 to 1968, he designed the title sequences for features films, including that of Gheysar by M. Kimiai. While holding down a bureaucratic job in a police station, he attended lectures at the Fine Arts School.

In 1969, with a friend, he founded the cinema department of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults. Very soon, the department became one of Iran's most prestigious studios. Among others who worked there were A. Naderi, B.Beyzao, D. Mehrjui, E. Forozesh. D. Panahi and Sobrah Sh. Salesso.

From 1970, Abbas Kiarostami made several short films and features. His favourite subject until 1991 was children. He prefers working with non-professional actors and on location. His work is recognisable for its Chekovian humour and poetry.

He has been a member of the jury of several festivals: Locarno in 1990, Cannes in 1993, Venice in 1995, San Sebastian in 1996. He won the Golden Palm at Cannes in 1997 for The Taste of Cherry and, at Venice in 1999, he was awarded the Special Jury Prize for The Wind Will Carry Us.

On December 13, 1997, he received the UNESCO Fellini-Medal.