Description:

In a situation where documentary filmmaking is often possible through state funding and supervision, but the state-run TV as the major medium of screening documentary films has closed its doors to independent filmmakers, how can you make documentary films? Making films without state funding is a good way, but this requires the filmmaker to carry two burdens in addition to directing—producing and distributing the films. What are the consequences of this situation? In this session,  Mojtaba Mirtahmasb is planning to talk about his previous five films as examples related to the topic and to show around 6 minutes of each film as demo. At the end of the talk, he will introduce the film “Six Centuries, Six Years” that will be screened in full in the evening (7:00pm, Louis Hall 119).

Mojtaba Mirtahmasb graduated from Art University of Tehran in 1995. The following year, he directed his first documentary film titled “Banner”, one part in the 52-part series titled “Children of Iran”. Since then he has made about 30 documentary films. In 1990 and around the same time as he entered university, he began his professional activities in cinema as sound manager, still photographer, editor, assistant director, and program manager in several fiction and documentary films, collaborating with prominent Iranian directors such as Parviz Kimiavi, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Ebrahim Mokhtari and Rakhshan Banietemad. Mirtahmasb’s guild activities have been one area of his special concern in cinema. He joined Iranian Documentary Filmmaker’s Association (IRDFA) as a member in 1998. From 2004 to 2010, he served as a member of the board of directors of IRDFA for three consecutive terms and one term as the chairman of the board of directors. As member of jury, he served in a number of festivals in Iran and abroad, and has also conducted a number of workshops on documentary filmmaking.

Co-sponsored by Department of Radio, Television and Film.