Rakhshan Bani Etemad (April 3rd, 1954, Tehran, Iran )

Rakhshan Bani Etemad (Teheran, 1954) studied film at the University of Dramatic Arts in the Iranian capital, then, as from 1973, began working in TV as a scriptwriter and assistant director.

From 1979-1986 she made a number of short documentary-style films. Her first full-length film Off the Limits (1987) is a satire on bureaucracy.

In 1991 Nargess which had been censored in Iran for two years was awarded best director and best film score at the Fajr Film Festival. Four years later, Blue Veiled (1995) won the Pardo di bronzo at the Festival of Locarno.

In 1995 she was a member of the jury at Turin's Festival Cinema Giovani and the following year took on the same role at Locarno. Her latest film The May Lady (1998) won numerous awards at film festivals around the world.

“The way I look at and pursue cinema is beyond the art and film itself, but as a way to create social change… you know, to try and change someone’s life.” --she said in an interview.

It is important to note that despite her success in Iran many of her films have problems screening in Iran.

Half of her documentaries have never been screened in Iran and her latest Baran and Boomi (1999) was not allowed to participate in the Cannes Film Festival in France.