Cinema of Iran

The cinema of Iran, also known as Persian cinema, is a major global film industry.

Most of these films are written and spoken in the Persian language. Many critics consider Iranian cinema to be one of the most important national cinemas in the world. They often compare its artistic significance to historical movements like Italian neorealism. For the past twenty years, many international film festivals have honored Iranian films. These movies have become major exports that gain recognition across the globe.

Long before the invention of the camera, Iran had a rich history of visual storytelling.

Around 500 BC, artists created bas-reliefs at Persepolis. A bas-relief is a sculpture made by carving into a flat stone or metal surface. During the Sassanian period, artists in Taq Bostan created sophisticated carvings of hunting scenes. One carving depicts a wounded wild pig, which some see as a precursor to the cinematic close-up. Later, Persian miniatures used a lack of perspective to show multiple plots within one image. Other traditional performances included shadow plays called sâyeh-bâzi and dramatic ta'ziyeh.

Cinema arrived in Persia during the early 20th century when the technology was only five years old.

Mirza Ebrahim Khan Akkas Bashi was the first filmmaker. He was a photographer for Muzaffar al-Din Shah. In 1900, he filmed the Shah's visit to Europe. The first public screening occurred in 1904 in the back of an antique shop in Tehran. By 1905, the first movie theater opened on Cheragh Gaz Avenue. The industry faced many challenges during political conflicts. However, Ardeshir Khan helped movie theaters reappear in 1912.

Technological and educational growth followed in the following decades.

Ovanes Ohanian established the first film school, "Parvareshgahe Artistiye Cinema," in 1925. He also directed the first silent film, Abi and Rabi, in 1930. In 1933, Abdolhossein Sepanta released the first Iranian sound film, titled Lor Girl. This film was shown in two Tehran cinemas, Mayak and Sepah. Sepanta used Persian literature and mythology to tell stories. He directed works like Laili and Majnoon, which is a love story similar to Romeo and Juliet.

In the mid-20th century, new leaders helped organize the industry.

Esmail Koushan and Farrokh Ghaffari were very influential. Ghaffari founded the National Iranian Film Society in 1949. This helped create a space for non-commercial and alternative films. By the 1950s through the 1970s, a movement called New Iranian Cinema, or cinema motefävet, emerged. This period helped set the stage for the complex artistic styles seen in later years.

After the 1979 Revolution, the film industry underwent significant changes.

New regulations led some filmmakers to go into exile. However, the government began providing financial aid in 1983. This change supported a new generation of filmmakers, including many women. The focus of films often shifted to lyrical dramas and true stories about children. By 2001, the number of feature films produced annually rose to 87. This was a large increase from the 28 films produced in 1980.

Iranian cinema has achieved massive success at major international festivals.

Abbas Kiarostami won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 for Taste of Cherry. In 2006, six different Iranian films were represented at the Berlin Film Festival. Many actors have also won prestigious awards. Shahab Hosseini won Best Actor at Cannes, and Reza Naji won a Silver Bear at Berlin. Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo was the first Iranian actress nominated for an Oscar. Zar Amir Ebrahimi also won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival.

Today, the industry continues to expand through different regions and styles.

In 1998, the government began funding ethnic cinema. This helped the film industry in Iranian Kurdistan grow quickly. Filmmakers like Bahman Ghobadi and Ali-Reza Rezai have emerged from this movement. There is also a growing production of movie-documentaries. These films often explore social themes and the ideals of the Islamic revolution. Iranian cinema remains a vital part of the global artistic landscape.