Abbas Kiarostami

"The vocation of art is to take us out of our everyday reality, to take us to a hidden truth that is difficult to access, to a level that is not material but spiritual." Abbas Kiarostami, born in Tehran in 1940, is considered one of the most legendary and revolutionary directors in the history of cinema, known for his contribution to the Iranian New Wave. He began his multifaceted artistic career as a photographer, writer, poet and filmmaker, first venturing into directing educational films for a young audience, along with a series of documentaries and features, which played a key role in shaping his career. With over 40 titles behind him, Kiarostami's predominantly documentary work embodies a semi-fictional style, rich in existential metaphors and set in austere landscapes. With a neorealist aesthetic and a filmography characterized by melancholy and ambiguity, he rethought the essence of dialogue and beauty within the poetic realm, challenging social and political realities through cinematic language. Notable films exemplifying this include such acclaimed works by Kiarostami as "Close Up" (1990), the award-winning "The Taste of Cherries" (1997), "The Wind Will Carry Us" (1999) and "Certified Copy" (2010).