Maziar Miri

Maziar Miri (born February 1, 1974, in Tehran) is an Iranian filmmaker, editor, and director known for his socially conscious films that often tackle sensitive and controversial issues in Iranian society.

Miri studied Film Editing and began his career in 1995, working in the Editing Department of Channel 2 at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). During this time, he made several short films and worked as an assistant in the cinema industry. His transition into feature filmmaking came in 2000 with Unfinished Song, a film about the prohibition of women singing in Iran. Though it won several international awards, the film was banned in Iran due to its subject matter.

From 2002 to 2004, Miri directed the documentary series Red Migration. In 2006, he was elected as one of the nine members of the Central Council of the Iranian Cinema Directors’ Union. That same year, his second feature film, Gradually, was selected for the Berlin International Film Festival’s program section.

 Miri’s third feature, Reward of Silence, provided a unique anti-war perspective on the Iran-Iraq War. His fourth film, The Book of Law, explored the rigid customs and conventions in Iranian culture. The film was immediately banned for two years and was prohibited from both national and international screenings until it was eventually allowed to be released with nine minutes removed.

 In 2010, Miri directed Felicity Land, a film that critiques Iran’s middle class. His most recent work, The Painting Pool, explores the struggles of a mentally challenged couple in Iranian society.

 Beyond his filmmaking, Miri has remained active in editing and directing television series, continuously engaging with Iran’s cinematic landscape. His works are often characterized by their deep social commentary, making him one of the prominent contemporary filmmakers in Iran.