Samira Makhmalbaf

Makhmalbaf’s films followed applied the doc-fiction hybrid aesthetic of her father’s earlier work. Employing non-professional actors and a street-level realism. Her films have been known to follow a theme of progress and change. Makhmalbaf’s films have been known to follow a theme of progress and change. As reflected in her style, she strives to portray political real-world purpose, fully committed to exposing issues such as poverty. Also tackling topics such as women’s rights and education in her 2003 film, Panj é asr (At Five in The Afternoon). Centering around a young woman in Afghanistan who sets out to pursue a more open minded education at a non-religious school.

Mohsen Makhmalbaf married Fatemeh Meshkini, who gave birth to their three children – Samira (or Zeynab, born in 1980), Meysam (or Ayyoub, born in 1981), and Hana (or Khatereh, born in 1988). Mohsen Makhmalbaf says in an interview, “When I left the political organizations and moved into radio, Fatemeh came with me. I wrote programming and she became an announcer. When Samira was born, we’d take her with us to the radio station. We worked and she was always with one of us. Fatemeh Meshkini died in a tragic accident in 1992. Mohsen Makhmalbaf subsequently married Fatemeh Meshkini’s sister, Marziyeh Meshkini.

During the production of Asbe du-pa (Two Legged Horse), Makhmalbaf along with her cast and crew suffered a devastating attack while filming in Afghanistan. Production came to a screeching halt when a man who infiltrated the set as an extra tossed a hand grenade from the rooftop of a local bazaar. The attack severely injured six cast members and killed a horse. In an interview Makhmalbaf stated, "I saw little boys falling to the ground and the whole street was full of blood... My first thought was that I wouldn't see my father anymore." Determined to carry on, Makhmalbaf completed her film and held the initial release in 2008 in France.

Samira Makhmalbaf has been the winner and nominee of numerous awards. She was nominated twice for Golden Palm of Cannes Film Festival for Takhté siah (Blackboards) (2001) and Panj é asr (At Five in the Afternoon) (2003). She won Prix du Jury of Cannes, for both films in 2001 and 2003 respectively. Samira Mohmalbaf also won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival for The Apple in 1998 and the UNESCO Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2002 for 11'09"01 September 11. In 2003, a panel of critics at the British newspaper The Guardian named Makhmalbaf among the best 40 best directors at work today.

At the age of 17, after directing two video productions Makhmalbaf went on to direct her first feature film, La Pomme (The Apple). She presented La Pomme at Cannes Film Festival. In an interview at the London Film Festival in 1998, Samira Makhmalbaf stated that she felt that The Apple owed its existence to the new circumstances and changed atmosphere that prevailed in Iran as a result of the Khatami presidency. The Apple was invited to more than 100 international film festivals in a period of two years, while going to the screen in more than 30 countries. In 2000 she was a member of the jury at the 22nd Moscow International Film Festival.

Samira Makhmalbaf (Persian: سمیرا مخملباف ‎, Samira Makhmalbaaf) (born February 15, 1980) is an internationally acclaimed Iranian filmmaker and script writer. She is the daughter of Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the film director and writer. Samira Makhmalbaf is considered to be one of the most influential directors as part of the Iranian New Wave.

Samira Makhmalbaf was born February 15, 1980 in Tehran, Iran to filmmaker, Mohsen Makhmalbaf. As a child, she would join her father on his film sets and watch him edit afterward. In her official biography, Makhmalbaf stated that her first taste for cinema came at a tender age, when she played a role in her father's film The Cyclist in 1987. In pursuit of her dream the young Makhmalbaf left high school when she was 14 years old to study cinema in the Makhmalbaf Film House for five years. At the age of 20, she studied Psychology and Law at Roehampton University in London.