Manijeh Hekmat

Born in 1962, Manijeh Hekmat is one of the prominent figures in political cinema in Iran. In 1995, she started her film career as a producer. In 2002, based on her long studies and field-works, Hekmat directed her debut feature, WOMEN’S PRISON, on the situation of Iranian women prisoners. The film was premiered in Venice Film Festival and then entered the festival circuit. In 2007, her second film, THREE WOMEN, was shown in more than 80 international film festivals starting with Berlinale. She has also directed a number of documentaries – most notably NGOS IN IRAN (2003); ME, MY ROOM AND MY FRIENDS (2004); HUNDRED YEARS PARLIAMENT IN IRAN (2005); WOMEN COME OUT OF THE HOUSE (2006); and THE LULLABY (2016). In 2020, despite the festival cancellations, she made a spectacular comeback to the festival circuit with her 4th feature film, BANDAR BAND, participating in Toronto, Zurich, Mill Valley, Bosphorous, Hainan, etc. and winning the main award in Kolkata. Up to now, as president of Bamdad Film Company, she has produced 16 feature films– such as THE GIRL IN THE SNEAKERS (1999); THERE ARE THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW (2009); NO ENTRY FOR MEN (2011); CITY OF THE MICE (2014); GAP (2014) – and several shorts and documentaries.

Feature Films: 2002- Women’s Prison; 2008- Three Women; 2018- Old Road; 2020- Bandar Band; 2022- 19; 2023- Junks and Dolls; 2024- Fear & Trembling.