Sepideh Farsi

Sepideh Farsi, born in 1965 in Tehran, is an acclaimed Iranian filmmaker known for her poignant storytelling and exploration of identity. Raised in a politically charged environment, she became actively involved in protests during her teenage years. At just 16, Farsi was arrested for harboring a political dissident, leading to an eight-month imprisonment. Following her release, she faced a university ban and subsequently sought refuge in France.

Relocating to Paris in 1984, Farsi initially pursued mathematics but soon gravitated towards the visual arts. She began her creative journey with photography before transitioning to filmmaking. Her early work, "The World Is My Home," documents the Iranian diaspora, laying the foundation for her future projects. In 2000, she garnered the FIPRESCI Prize at the Bombay Film Festival for her documentary "Homi D. Sethna, Film-maker," which portrays the life of an Indian filmmaker.

Farsi's 2001 fiction piece "Men of Fire" focused on the lives of Tehran firefighters, while her 2003 film "Maryam's Journey" blends fiction and documentary, highlighting a young Iranian woman's quest for her father in Tehran. In 2007, she released the documentary "Harat," and in 2008, she creatively adapted to restrictions by filming everyday life in Tehran with a cellphone.

Her 2014 film "Red Rose" boldly challenged Iranian cinema's taboos by depicting intimate relationships among the youth. Farsi's documentary "Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk," released in 2025, poignantly reflects on her correspondence with Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, whose tragic death coincided with the Cannes Film Festival. Farsi’s work continues to resonate deeply, shedding light on the complexities of culture, identity, and social issues.