Mini biography

Mehrdad Oskouei (September 12, 1969 Teheran, Iran Tehran)

Independent producer, filmmaker and photographer, Mehrdad Oskouei was born in Tehran on September 12, 1969.

He has a B.A. in film direction from the University of Arts, starting in the theatre in 1981 and the film world in 1988. He made his first film in 1988 at the age of 19.

He started his artistic career as theater player in 1981 and started filmmaking in 1988.

Since then he has produced, written, and directed more than 25 documentaries and shorts. His films have received over 80 awards from national and international festivals.

“People are surprised by how intimate my camera was with the characters and how joyous and intelligent these girls really are in their interactions. This is really what matters. It’s the real reward for a documentarian. I make the films only so people can hear these stories.”

« The Other Side of Burka » was awarded as best Iranian documentary in 2004 and Oskouei himself was awarded as best young Iranian filmmaker in both 2004 and 2005.

« Nose, Iranian Style » was nominated for the Golden Movie Squad DOC U Award at the International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam in 2005.

« It’s Always Late for Freedom » won The Best Mid-Length Documentary Award at Hot Docs in 2008.

« The Last Days of Winter » was awarded for the DOC U Award at the International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam in 2011.

His films have regularly been shown on TV and at festivals worldwide.

Mehrad Oskouei is a 2010 Prince Claus Award laureate “for his moving, informative and evocative films, for his honest engagement with his subjects and his commitment to accurately representing their concerns, and for working in difficult contexts to break down prejudice and generate social justice.”

FILMOGRAPHY

Short Film:

1988  ANOTHER BIRTH
1989  IN HIS HISTORY
1993  INFORMATION
1996  BORDER
1997  THE HEAVEN WE COME FROM
1998  HAJI BASHI PRIMARY SCHOOL
1999  YOU LOVE ME IF
 

Documentary:

1996  SAOCHI (co-director: Reza Yazdani)

1997  THE NEW YEAR FOR TRIBE

2000  MY MOTHER’S HOME, LAGOON             
2001  HE ECLIPSE (co-dircetor: Ebrahim Saeedi)

2001  LOOK AT ME
2001  FONDLER OF LIGHT
2002  I CAN’T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT AFGHANISTAN

2002  THE WIDOWER

2004  THE OTHER SIDE OF BURKA
2006  Nose, iranian style

Director - Selected filmography

1. Sunless Shadows (2019)
   
2. Starless Dreams | Royahaye Dame Sobh (2016)
   
3. The Last Days of Winter | Les derniers jours de l’hiver| Akharin Rouzhaye Zemestan (2012)
   
4. It's Always Late for Freedom | Hamishe Baraye Azadi Dir Ast (2007)
   
5. Nose, iranian style | Damagh be sabke irani (2006)
   
6. The Other Side of Burka - Az pase borghe (2004)
   
7. My Mother’s Home, Lagoon | Khaneye madariam, Mordaab (2000)