Abbas Kiarostami

Abbas Kiarostami (22 June 1940 – 4 July 2016) was an acclaimed Iranian film director, screenwriter, poet, photographer, and film producer. Noted for his distinct style that blends fiction and real elements, Kiarostami is seen as one of the most important filmmakers of late 20th century. A major figure in the Iranian New Wave, his works explored themes of life, death, and the human condition, often using child protagonists and storylines located in rural villages. His esteemed movies include Where Is the Friend's Home?, Close-Up, Through the Olive Trees, and The Wind Will Carry Us. He won numerous awards including the Palme d'Or at Cannes for Taste of Cherry (1997). Kiarostami was married to Parvin Amir-Gholi from 1969 until their divorce in 1982. They had two sons, Ahmad and Bahman.

Born in Tehran, Kiarostami began his art career with painting, winning a competition at 18 before graduating from the University of Tehran School of Fine Arts. He then worked in advertising, before embarking on his acclaimed film career, which spanned from 1962 to 2016. His last works, Certified Copy and Like Someone in Love, marked his first exterior filming experience outside Iran.