Iram Haq

Iram Haq (born 1 January 1976) is a Norwegian filmmaker, actress, director and screenwriter of Pakistani heritage, widely recognized for her incisive explorations of identity, cultural clash, and immigrant experience. Raised in a conservative Muslim family that migrated from Pakistan to Norway, Haq’s personal history forms the emotional backbone of her most celebrated works, giving her narratives an authenticity that resonates across continents. After completing studies in art direction at the Westerdals School of Communication in Oslo, she spent several years honing her craft on stage and screen, appearing in productions such as the television series Import‑Export and the short film Old Faithfull, which earned a spot in the Venice Film Festival competition in 2004. Her directorial voice emerged with the Sundance‑premiered short Little Miss Eyeflap in 2010, a subtle yet powerful piece that announced her talent for blending humor with poignant social commentary. Haq’s first feature, I Am Yours (2013), debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival and was lauded by Variety as an 'assured…debut', portraying a young Pakistani mother navigating life in Norway with naturalistic performances that garnered critical acclaim and became Norway’s official Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film. She followed this success with What Will People Say (2021), a heartbreaking drama rooted in her own experiences of cultural expectation versus personal freedom; the film was selected as Norway’s submission for the 91st Academy Awards. Throughout her career Haq has remained committed to giving voice to under‑represented stories, championing female perspectives, and bridging the gaps between disparate worlds, solidifying her status as a transformative figure in contemporary Scandinavian cinema. Beyond her film work, Haq actively participates in panels and mentorship programs that support emerging talent from immigrant backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of diverse representation in the arts. Her evolving portfolio continues to challenge stereotypes and invites audiences worldwide to reconsider notions of belonging and identity.