Sepideh Farsi
Encyclopedia
Sepideh Farsi is an Iranian film director
, born in Tehran
in 1965.
in 1984 to study mathematics
. However, eventually she was drawn to the visual arts
and initially experimented in photography
before making her first short films. A main theme of her works is identity
. She still visits Tehran each year.
in Best First Feature in 2009. She won the FIPRESCI
Prize (2002), Cinéma du Réel
and Traces de Vie prize (2001) for "Homi D. Sethna, filmmaker" and Best documentary prize in Festival dei Popoli (2007) for "HARAT".
's crowded capital city of Tehran
, facing international sanctions over its nuclear ambitions and experiencing civil unrest. It was shot entirely with a Nokia
camera phone
because of the government restrictions over shooting a film. The film shows various aspects of city life including following women at the hairdresser
s talking of the latest fad
s, young men speaking of drugs
, prostitution
and other societal problems, and an underground
rapper called “Hichkas” who performs discreetly because he is banned by the government from giving concerts. The dialogue is in Persian
with English
and Arabic subtitles. In December 2009, Tehran Without Permission was shown at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, born in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in 1965.
Early years
Farsi left Iran in 1980 and went to ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1984 to study mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. However, eventually she was drawn to the visual arts
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
and initially experimented in photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
before making her first short films. A main theme of her works is identity
Identity (social science)
Identity is a term used to describe a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations . The term is used more specifically in psychology and sociology, and is given a great deal of attention in social psychology...
. She still visits Tehran each year.
Awards/Recognition
Farsi was a Member of the Jury of the Locarno International Film FestivalLocarno International Film Festival
The Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
in Best First Feature in 2009. She won the FIPRESCI
FIPRESCI
The International Federation of Film Critics is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for "the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests." It was founded in June 1930 in...
Prize (2002), Cinéma du Réel
Cinéma du Réel
Cinéma du Réel is an international documentary film festival organized by the BPI-Bibliothèque publique d'information in Paris and was founded in 1978. The festival presents about 200 films per year in several sections by experienced documentary directors as well as first timers...
and Traces de Vie prize (2001) for "Homi D. Sethna, filmmaker" and Best documentary prize in Festival dei Popoli (2007) for "HARAT".
Recent News
One of her latest films is called Tehran Bedoune Mojavez (Tehran Without Permission). The 83-minute documentary shows life in IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
's crowded capital city of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, facing international sanctions over its nuclear ambitions and experiencing civil unrest. It was shot entirely with a Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
camera phone
Camera phone
A camera phone is a mobile phone which is able to capture still photographs . Since early in the 21st century the majority of mobile phones in use are camera phones....
because of the government restrictions over shooting a film. The film shows various aspects of city life including following women at the hairdresser
Hairdresser
Hairdresser is a term referring to anyone whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques...
s talking of the latest fad
FAD
In biochemistry, flavin adenine dinucleotide is a redox cofactor involved in several important reactions in metabolism. FAD can exist in two different redox states, which it converts between by accepting or donating electrons. The molecule consists of a riboflavin moiety bound to the phosphate...
s, young men speaking of drugs
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
, prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and other societal problems, and an underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
rapper called “Hichkas” who performs discreetly because he is banned by the government from giving concerts. The dialogue is in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
with English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Arabic subtitles. In December 2009, Tehran Without Permission was shown at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Filmography
- Zire Âb / The house under the water (in post-production)
- Tehran bedoune mojavez / Tehran without permission (2009)
- If it were Icarus (2008)
- Harat (2007)
- Negah / The Gaze (2006)
- Khab-e khak / Dreams of Dust (2003)
- Safar-e Maryam / The journey of Maryam (2002)
- Mardan-e Atash / Men of Fire (2001)
- Homi D. Sethna, filmmaker (2000)
- Donya khaneye man ast / The world is my home (1999)
- Khabe Âb / Water dreams (1997)
- Bâd-e shomal / Northwind (1993)
External links
- Sepideh Farsi in IMDb