Moharram Zaynalzadeh

Nesim is an elderly Afghan cyclist. Nesim's son settled in Istanbul years ago and lives there. Nesim receives news that his son, who is about to get married, has gone missing before the wedding and sets out to find him. He enters Turkey via illegal and dangerous routes along the border, traveling with refugees. After losing his friends at the border, Nesim takes refuge in a border village in Turkey, where he witnesses the love between shepherd Mustafa and Zelal. Upon learning of Nesim's arrival in Turkey, the mafia seeks to exploit the situation and sends its men to track him down. Shepherd Mustafa finds himself caught between protecting Zelal, whom he loves, and Nesim and the criminals.

Open details →

A rural young man comes to the capital under the pressure of his peers, to acclaim some fortune for himself

Open details →

Nesim is an elderly Afghan cyclist. Nesim's son settled in Istanbul years ago and lives there. Nesim receives news that his son, who is about to get married, has gone missing before the wedding and sets out to find him. He enters Turkey via illegal and dangerous routes along the border, traveling with refugees. After losing his friends at the border, Nesim takes refuge in a border village in Turkey, where he witnesses the love between shepherd Mustafa and Zelal. Upon learning of Nesim's arrival in Turkey, the mafia seeks to exploit the situation and sends its men to track him down. Shepherd Mustafa finds himself caught between protecting Zelal, whom he loves, and Nesim and the criminals.

Open details →

A semi-autobiographical account of an incident in Makhmalbaf's life when, as a 17-year-old, he stabbed a policeman at a protest rally. Two decades later, he tracks down the policeman he injured in an attempt to make amends.

Open details →

Director Mohsen Makhmalbaf claims to have never seen a movie before making his first film. Doubtful as it sounds, this boast matches perfectly with the controversial artist's personae. Stardust Stricken -- Mohsen Makhmalbaf: A Portrait documents the work of this Iranian filmmaker. After spending time in prison for political dissidence, Makhmalbaf discovered the social potential of the cinema. Some of his projects include Marriage of the Blessed and The Actor. While creating around 20 films, the outspoken director established new ideas about the nature of his work. In this release, Makhmalbaf speaks about art, human behavior, and his evolving fundamentalist beliefs.

Open details →

Makhmalbaf puts an advertisement in the papers calling for an open casting for his next movie. However when hundreds of people show up, he decides to make a movie about the casting and the screen tests of the would-be actors.

Open details →

The wife of Nasim, an Afghan immigrant in Iran, is gravely ill. He needs money to pay for her care, but his day labor digging wells does not pay enough. A friend connects Nasim to a two-bit promoter who sells tickets to watch Nasim ride a bicycle continuously for a week. The promoter brings in sick and aged spectators, haranguing them to find hope in Nasim's strength. Aided by his son, who feeds him as he rides, Nasim grinds out the days and shivering nights. Local officials believe this may be a plot and Nasim may be a spy; they try to sabotage him as do those who bet he won't finish the week. Will desperation alone get Nasim the money? Is any triumph an illusion?

Open details →