Mohsen Makhmalbaf is a seminal figure in Iranian cinema, celebrated both for his bold storytelling and for his role in shaping the internationally renowned Iranian New Wave. As a self-taught filmmaker and a former political activist, Makhmalbaf has built a career on poetic works that blend humanist vision with a resonant political undercurrent. His acclaimed films include The Peddler (1987), Gabbeh (1996), and Kandahar (2001), the latter of which brought him worldwide recognition.
Throughout his career, Makhmalbaf has been a passionate advocate for freedom of expression, harnessing the power of cinema as a force for change. This stance has often placed him at odds with the authorities in his homeland, and his family has lived in exile since the mid-2000s. His more recent films, such as The President (2014), continue to bear his signature qualities: allegorical storytelling and moral urgency. Honored at Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, Makhmalbaf remains one of contemporary cinema’s most vital and uncompromising voices.
The film will start at 17:00 with a 15 minute break before the Masterclass at 18:30.