Kianoush Ayari

Kianoosh Ayyari (b. 1951 Ahwaz, north-eastern Iran) was captivated by film from an early age. He first filmed on 8mm and, during the 1970s, was one of the most distinctive figures of the country's Free Cinema movement. As an amateur director he made a whole series of films awarded at domestic and international festivals (e.g. The Reflection, The Trap, The Island, Dust-Shower etc.). He later turned professional and soon became one of the most important Iranian filmmakers. His feature-length films are also highly successful, both at home and abroad. Select filmography: The Monster (1986), The Specter of the Scorpion (1987), Beyond the Fire (1988), Grand Day in a Small Town (1989), Two Halves of an Apple (1992), The Abadanis (1993 – Silver Leopard at the Locarno IFF, Best Film at the Aubervilliers IFF), The Bull's Horn (1996), To Be or Not To Be (1998, Best Screenplay at the Cairo IFF and Best Film at the Teheran IFF).

MFF Karlovy Vary