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Samira Makhmalbaf (Persian: سمیرا مخملباف) born February 15, 1980[1], Tehran is an Iranian (Persian) filmmaker, the daughter of Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the famous film director and writer. Samira Makhmalbaf belongs to New wave movement of Iranian cinema and is considered as one of the best directors of contemporary world cinema.^[1]

Contents 1 Biography 2 Directing 3 International Awards 4 Trivia 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

At the age of seven, she acted in Mohsen Makhmalbaf's film The Cyclist. She left high school when she was 14, to learn cinema in the Makhmalbaf Film House for 5 years. At the age of 17, after directing two video productions, she went on to direct the movie The Apple. One year later, the 18 year old director went on to become the youngest director in the world participating in the official section of the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. The Apple has been invited to more than 100 international film festivals in a period of two years, while going to the screen in more than 30 countries.

In 1999, Samira made her second feature film, entitled The Blackboard and for the second time participated in the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival as the youngest director in the world, in 2000, this time winning the jury prize.

Samira also directed a movie while living in Kabul called At Five in the Afternoon.

Samira Makhmalbaf was the winner or nominee of numerous awards. She was nominated twice for Golden Palm of Cannes Film Festival for Panj é asr (2003) and Takhté siah (2001). She won Prix du Jury of Cannes, for both films in 2003 and 2001 respectively. Samira Makhmalbaf also won UNESCO Award of Venice Film Festival in 2002 for 11.09.01 - September 11 and Sutherland Trophy of London Film Festival for The Apple in 1998.

• The Apple (S Makhmalbaf) (Language: Persian)
• The Blackboard (Language: Kurdish)
• God, Construction and Destruction as part of 11'9''01 September 11 (Language: Persian)
• At Five in the Afternoon (Language: Persian)

• “Sutherland Trophy”, London Film Festival 1998, UK.
• “International Critics prize”, Locarno Film Festival 1998, Switzerland.
• “Jury’s Special prize”, Thessalonica Film Festival 1998, Greece.
• “Jury’s Special prize”, Sao Paulo Film Festival 1998, Brazil.
• “Jury’s Special prize”, Independent cinema Festival 1999, Argentina.
• “Critic’s prize”, Independent cinema Festival 1999, Argentina.
• “Audience’s prize”, Independent cinema Festival 1999, Argentina.
• “Jury Special award”, Official Competition section of Cannes Film Festival 2000, France.
• “Federico Fellini Medal”, UNESCO, Paris, 2000.
• “Francois Truffaut prize”, Giffoni Film Festival in Italy 2000.
• “Giffoni’s Mayor Prize “, Giffoni Film Festival, Italy, 2000.
• “Special cultural Prize”, UNESCO, Paris, 2000.
• “The grand Jury prize”, American Film Institute, USA, 2000
• “Jury Special award”, Official Competition section of Cannes Film Festival 2003, France.
• "Grand prize from Society of churches of world", Cannes 2003, France.
• Golden Peacock, competition (first prize) for Best film at the 34th International Film Festival of India 2003, India.
• The “Youths’ Cinema” Award in Singapore’s 17th International Silver Screen Film Festival 2004

• The indie rock band Pain(t) by Numbers wrote a song providing a brief biography of Samira.

1. ^ *Kiarostami and Makhmalbaf among The world's 40 best directors

• Persian cinema
• Women's Cinema
• Iranian women
• List of famous Persian women
• Persian women's movement

• http://www.makhmalbaf.com - Official homepage of the Makhmalbaf family of film-makers
• Samira Makhmalbaf at the Internet Movie Database