Top 10 Iranian Directors and Their Best Movie

9: Ana Lily Amirpour

“A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” (2014)

Ana Lily Amirpour burst onto the global stage with this genre-bending sensation, often called the first Iranian vampire Western. Blending Farsi dialogue with the style of American horror, Westerns and graphic novels, she crafts a haunting story about a mysterious, skateboarding vampire who turns the tables on predatory men in a corrupt town. Her fearless, outsider vision flipped Iranian and genre cinema on its head. “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” took home nominations and prizes at festivals like Sundance, Deauville and Sitges, earned rave reviews for its bold visuals and soundtrack, and quickly achieved cult classic status—establishing Amirpour as one of the most original directors of her generation.

8: Vahid Jalilvand

“No Date, No Signature” (2017)

Vahid Jalilvand’s “No Date, No Signature” is a taut, morally charged drama that cemented his status as a vital new voice. A respected forensic pathologist strikes a motorcycle at night; the injured family refuses help. Days later, the father’s child dies, and questions of guilt, responsibility, and class pressure tighten like a vice. Jalilvand builds suspense from quiet gestures and ethical dread, capturing how institutions—and conscience—can fail ordinary people. Anchored by restrained, riveting performances and spare, meticulous staging, the film’s compassion never softens its bite. It’s the work that defines Jalilvand: precise, unsentimental, and deeply humane, turning a small collision into a haunting inquiry about truth, power, and the price of looking away. And it lingers long after the credits.

7: Mohammad Rasoulof

“There Is No Evil” (2020)

Few filmmakers risk more for their art than Mohammad Rasoulof, a director who has faced official bans and imprisonment for his politically charged work. His entire career is a defiant act of resistance, relentlessly interrogating how authoritarian systems corrode individual conscience and moral choice. This theme finds its ultimate expression in his masterpiece, “There Is No Evil,” which won the prestigious Golden Bear at Berlin. A stunning act of artistic bravery, the film was shot entirely in secret. Rasoulof masterfully weaves four stories that scrutinize the soul-crushing human cost of capital punishment, forcing characters and audiences alike to weigh the price of complicity against the perils of defiance.

6: Reza Mirkarimi

“Castle of Dreams” (2019)

Reza Mirkarimi is a master of Iranian family drama, celebrated for his deeply humanist, character-driven filmmaking. His subtle, observational style focuses on the quiet complexities of relationships and moral choices. Mirkarimi masterfully explores themes of responsibility, loss, and reconciliation, and this vision reached a powerful apex with his defining film, “Castle of Dreams.” Rather than just telling a story, Mirkarimi uses the film’s narrative of a reluctant father reconnecting with his children to craft a profound emotional journey. Its international success, including Best Director at Shanghai, solidified his reputation as a premier auteur whose quiet, powerful stories reveal universal human truths.

5: Samira Makhmalbaf

“Blackboards” (2000)

A prodigy of world cinema, Samira Makhmalbaf became one of the youngest directors to compete at Cannes, directing her debut “The Apple” at just 17. She solidified her audacious reputation with “Blackboards,” a poetic and surreal allegory where her signature style—blending harsh realism with dreamlike imagery—is on full display. The film follows itinerant teachers carrying large blackboards on their backs through the war-torn Kurdish borderlands, a powerful metaphor for the struggle for knowledge amidst displacement and exile. Using non-professional actors to heighten authenticity, Makhmalbaf’s bold, humanist vision earned her the prestigious Jury Prize at Cannes, cementing her status as one of the most vital voices of her generation.

4: Majid Majidi

“Children of Heaven” (1997) Majid Majidi’s “Children of Heaven” is a beloved classic that introduced millions to the beauty and heart of Iranian cinema. Set in Tehran, the film follows young Ali and his sister Zahra as they secretly share a single pair of shoes after Ali loses hers. Their daily race to swap sneakers captures the innocence, dignity, and resilience of childhood in the face of hardship. Majidi’s neorealist touch and emotional storytelling transform this simple premise into a poignant and suspenseful adventure about family, love, and perseverance. The film’s Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film made history, and its gentle warmth and humanity continue to resonate worldwide.

3: Jafar Panahi

“Taxi” (2015)How do you make a film when you’re banned from filmmaking and facing government persecution? If you’re Jafar Panahi, you get behind the wheel of a cab, mount a camera to the dashboard, and create a masterpiece. Driving through Tehran, Panahi picks up everyday Iranians whose stories, funny, raw, and subtly critical, capture the realities of life under censorship. Blending documentary and fiction, the film cleverly critiques social controls and celebrates resilience through small, unscripted moments. “Taxi”’s courage and creativity were honored with the Golden Bear at Berlin, and in 2025, Panahi became only the second Iranian director to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes, underscoring his fearless artistry and global influence.

2: Asghar Farhadi

“A Separation” (2011)Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation” is a landmark in world cinema that brought unprecedented international attention to Iranian film. The story follows a middle-class couple whose decision about leaving Iran triggers a chain of divorce, duty, and accusation, eventually spiraling into a legal and ethical showdown. Farhadi’s precise, naturalistic direction and layered script reveal the tensions between class, gender, and truth in modern Iran. Widely celebrated by critics, “A Separation” made history as the first Iranian film to win the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Its gripping realism and emotional complexity continue to set the standard for contemporary Iranian drama. Farhadi went on to win a second Oscar for “The Salesman” in 2016, joining a select group of filmmakers with multiple Best Foreign Language Film awards.

Before We Unveil Our Top Pick, Here Are A Few Honorable Mentions That Deserve Recognition:

Bahman Ghobadi, “A Time for Drunken Horses” (2000)

Cannes’ Caméra D’or Winner Gave a Voice to Iranian Kurds

Ali Abbasi, “Holy Spider” (2022)

Modern Auteur Whose Intense Film Created Controversy

Marjane Satrapi, “Persepolis” (2007)

Co-Directed Her Animated Graphic Novel Adaptation & Won Cannes Jury Prize

Mohsen Makhmalbaf, “A Moment of Innocence” (1996)

Confronting His Past Won Special Recognition at Locarno

Ali Hatami, “Mother” (1991)

Poet of Iranian Cinema’s Masterpiece is Among Iran’s Most Beloved Films

1: Abbas Kiarostami

“Taste of Cherry” (1997)

No director is more synonymous with Iranian cinema’s global ascent than Abbas Kiarostami, widely recognized for his poetic, philosophical approach to filmmaking. His minimalist style blurs the line between documentary and fiction, using simple premises to explore life’s most profound questions. This approach reached its peak with his masterpiece, “Taste of Cherry.” The film follows a man driving through the hills outside Tehran, searching for someone willing to bury him after he takes his life. Through long, meditative takes, Kiarostami transforms this grim task into a powerful reflection on the simple beauties that affirm life, culminating in a legendary fourth-wall-breaking ending. Its historic Palme d’Or win at Cannes—a first for Iran —marked a turning point for Kiarostami’s career and the global recognition of Iranian cinema.