Abdolreza Kahani

Abdolreza Kahani (; born 22 December 1973) is an expatriate Iranian filmmaker, who works principally in France and Canada.

He made his first short film, The Smile, in 1988. He made his first feature film, Dance with the Moon, in 2003.

In 2009, Kahani's film Twenty won the Special Jury Prize and the Prize of Ecumenical Jury at the 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The film observes a small band of employees trying to save a depressed Iranian banquet hall which the owner has decided to close in 20 days.

Several of his films were censored for political reasons by the government of Iran, most notably the 2016 film Delighted. He emigrated to France in the mid-2010s,

Isthmus, released in 2021, marked his English-language debut. He subsequently released the films You Won't See Winter, Nina and A Shrine.

In 2025, his film Mortician won the Sean Connery Prize at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Personal life Abdolreza Kahani was born on 22 December 1973 in Nishapur.

Filmography

Awards and honors

Awards Special Jury Award at the ran Cinema Celebration in 2011 for the film Horses Are Noble Animals Audience Award Yerevan International Film Festival 2010 for the film Nothing Special Prize of the Jury Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2009 for the film Twenty Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2009 for the film Twenty Honorary Diploma Best Director 27th Fajr International Film Festival 2009 for the film Twenty Silver Award Damascus International Film Festival 2009 for the film Twenty Golden Alexander Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2008 for the film Over There

Honors Critics' choice for movie of the year by Film Magazine in 2012 for By No Reason.