Majid Majidi
Encyclopedia
Majid Majidi is an internationally and critically acclaimed Iran
ian film director
, film producer
, and screenwriter
. Majidi's films have touched on many themes and genres and he has won many international awards.
After the Iranian Revolution
in 1979, his interest in cinema brought him to act in various films, most notably Mohsen Makhmalbaf
's Boycott
in 1985.
In 1998, Majidi directed the film Children of Heaven
, which was nominated to receive the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
. Though it lost to the Italian
film Life Is Beautiful
by Roberto Benigni
, Children of Heaven remains the only Iranian film to have been nominated by the Academy.
Majidi has directed several other feature films since Children of Heaven: The Color of Paradise
in 2000, Baran
in 2001, and The Willow Tree in 2005; alternate English title One Life More). He also recently directed a feature-length documentary titled Barefoot to Herat
which chronicles life in refugee camps and the city of Herat during and after the anti-Taliban offensive of 2001.
In 2008, Majidi's acclaimed film The Song of Sparrows
was the opening film of the Visakhapatnam International Film Festival in India
.
Majid Majidi was one of five international film directors invited by the Beijing government to create a documentary short film to introduce the city of Beijing
, in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics
which was held in the Chinese capital; the project was titled "Vision Beijing".
Majidi pulled out of a Danish film festival in protest against the publication in Denmark of cartoons satirizing the Prophet Muhammad. Majidi stated that he was withdrawing "to protest against insulting any religious belief or icon". Majidi writes, "I believe in God and live with my beliefs in every single moment of my life. I would like to protest against insulting any religious belief and icon. For this reason, I would like to announce my withdrawal from your festival."
Iran
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...
ian film director
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:...
, film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. Majidi's films have touched on many themes and genres and he has won many international awards.
Biography
Born in an Iranian middle class family, he grew up in Tehran and at the age of 14 he started acting in amateur theater groups. He then studied at the Institute of Dramatic Arts in Tehran.After the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
in 1979, his interest in cinema brought him to act in various films, most notably Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Mohsen Makhmalbaf is an Iranian film director, writer, editor, and producer. During 2007 he was the president of Asian Film Academy.Makhmalbaf's films have been widely presented in international film festivals in the past ten years. The multi-award-winning director, belongs to the new wave...
's Boycott
Boycott (film)
Boycott is a 1985 Iranian film directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, set in pre-revolutionary Iran. The film tells the story of a young man named Valeh who is sentenced to death for his communist tendencies. It is widely believed that the film is based on Makhmalbaf's own experiences. The actor Ardalan...
in 1985.
In 1998, Majidi directed the film Children of Heaven
Children of Heaven
Children of Heaven is a 1997 Iranian adventure comedy-drama film written and directed by Majid Majidi. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998...
, which was nominated to receive the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
. Though it lost to the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
film Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian film which tells the story of a Jewish Italian, Guido Orefice , who must employ his fertile imagination to help his family during their internment in a Nazi concentration camp.At the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, Benigni won the Academy Award for Best Actor and...
by Roberto Benigni
Roberto Benigni
Roberto Remigio Benigni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian actor, comedian, screenwriter and director of film, theatre and television.- Early years :...
, Children of Heaven remains the only Iranian film to have been nominated by the Academy.
Majidi has directed several other feature films since Children of Heaven: The Color of Paradise
The Color of Paradise
The Color of Paradise , is a 1999 Iranian film directed by Majid Majidi.- Plot :...
in 2000, Baran
Baran (film)
Baran is a 2001 Iranian film directed by Majid Majidi, based on an original script by Majid Majidi. The movie is set during recent times in which there are a large number of Afghan refugees living on the outskirts of Tehran...
in 2001, and The Willow Tree in 2005; alternate English title One Life More). He also recently directed a feature-length documentary titled Barefoot to Herat
Barefoot to Herat (film)
Barefoot to Herat is a 2002 Iranian film by Majid Majidi. It is a documentary about the plight of Afghani refugees just after the 2001 military offensive against the Taliban.- Background:...
which chronicles life in refugee camps and the city of Herat during and after the anti-Taliban offensive of 2001.
In 2008, Majidi's acclaimed film The Song of Sparrows
The Song of Sparrows
The Song of Sparrows is a 2008 Iranian movie directed by Majid Majidi. It tells the story of Karim, a man who works at an ostrich farm until he is fired because one of the ostriches fled. He finds a new job in Tehran, but he faces new problems in his personal life...
was the opening film of the Visakhapatnam International Film Festival in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Majid Majidi was one of five international film directors invited by the Beijing government to create a documentary short film to introduce the city of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
which was held in the Chinese capital; the project was titled "Vision Beijing".
Majidi pulled out of a Danish film festival in protest against the publication in Denmark of cartoons satirizing the Prophet Muhammad. Majidi stated that he was withdrawing "to protest against insulting any religious belief or icon". Majidi writes, "I believe in God and live with my beliefs in every single moment of my life. I would like to protest against insulting any religious belief and icon. For this reason, I would like to announce my withdrawal from your festival."
Filmography: Directing
- Explosion (Enfejar) (1981) - documentary short
- Hoodaj (1984) - short
- Examination Day (Rooz-e Emtehan) (1988) - short
- A Day with POWs (Yek Rooz Ba Asiran) (1989) - documentary short
- BadukBaduk (film)Baduk is a 1992 Iranian film. It was the debut feature of director Majid Majidi. The film deals with child slavery. The Persian term "baduk" refers to people, often children hired against their will, who carry smuggled merchandise from the border on foot....
(1992) - debut feature - The Last Village (Akhareen Abadi) (1993) - short
- Father (Pedar) (1996) - feature
- God Will Come (Khoda Miayad) (1996) - short
- Children of HeavenChildren of HeavenChildren of Heaven is a 1997 Iranian adventure comedy-drama film written and directed by Majid Majidi. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1998...
(Bacheha-ye Aseman) (1997) - feature - The Color of ParadiseThe Color of ParadiseThe Color of Paradise , is a 1999 Iranian film directed by Majid Majidi.- Plot :...
(Rang-e Khoda) (1999) - feature - BaranBaran (film)Baran is a 2001 Iranian film directed by Majid Majidi, based on an original script by Majid Majidi. The movie is set during recent times in which there are a large number of Afghan refugees living on the outskirts of Tehran...
(Rain) (2001) - feature - Barefoot to HeratBarefoot to Herat (film)Barefoot to Herat is a 2002 Iranian film by Majid Majidi. It is a documentary about the plight of Afghani refugees just after the 2001 military offensive against the Taliban.- Background:...
(Pa berahneh ta Herat) (2002) - documentary - Olympics in the Camp (Olympik Tu Urdugah) (2003) - documentary short
- The Willow Tree (Beed-e Majnoon; alternate English title One Life More) (2005) - feature
- Peace, Love, and Friendship (2007) - documentary short
- The Song of SparrowsThe Song of SparrowsThe Song of Sparrows is a 2008 Iranian movie directed by Majid Majidi. It tells the story of Karim, a man who works at an ostrich farm until he is fired because one of the ostriches fled. He finds a new job in Tehran, but he faces new problems in his personal life...
(Avaze Gonjeshk-ha) (2008) - feature - Kashmir Afloat - in production.
Awards and honors
Majid Majidi has received numerous awards up to now. Here are a few:- Oecumenical Special Award, 25th Montreal Film Festival, 2001.
- Grand Prix Des Ameriques, 25th Montreal Film Festival, 2001.
- Nominated for Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Foreign Film, 1998. - Grand Prix of Americas Best Film, 21st Montreal Festival for World Films, 1999.