Abbas Kiarostami

Abbas Kiarostami (1940-2016) was a world-renowned Iranian director, screenwriter, and producer who was part of the Iranian New Wave in the late 1960s. He developed the use of poetic dialogues and allegorical narratives to address political and philosophical issues. During the 1979 revolution, he chose to remain in Iran and made his films within Kanoon, an institute for cultural education where he experimented with his methods and style. His affinity for filming childhood is evident throughout his work, particularly in Where Is the Friend's House? (1987), the first film of his trilogy set in the village of Koker. This trilogy, which includes And Life Goes On (1992) and Through the Olive Trees (1994), brought him international recognition in the 1990s. In 1997, he won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Taste of Cherry. He then turned towards more experimental works. A major figure in contemporary art, he is also known for his installations, poems, and photographs.