Farhadi, Asghar (1972-)

Asghar Farhadi (born 1972 in Khomeini Shahr) is an Iranian screenwriter and film director. Asghar Farhadi is a graduate of Theatre, with a BA in Dramatic Arts and MA in Stage Direction from Tehran University and Tarbiat Modarres University. Farhadi made short 8mm and 16mm films in the Isfahan branch of the Iranian Young Cinema Society before moving on to writing plays and screenplays for Iran's State Broadcasting Company. He also directed such TV series as the popular A Tale of a City and co-wrote the screenplay of Ebrahim Hatamikia "Low Heights". Dancing in the Dust was his feature film debut, which he followed with the critically acclaimed A Beautiful City. His third film, Fireworks Wednesday won the Gold Hugo at the 2006 Chicago International Film Festival. His fourth film, About Elly won the Silver Bear for best director at 59th International Berlin Film Festival as well as Best Picture at Tribeca Film Festival. It is about a group of Iranians who take a trip to the Caspian Sea that turns tragic.