Ana Lily Amirpour facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ana Lily Amirpour
Amirpour in 2014
Born	Margate, Kent, England
Alma mater	San Francisco State University University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation	Film director screenwriter
Years active	2009–present

Ana Lily Amirpour (Persian: آنا لیلی امیرپور) is an American filmmaker with Iranian roots. She is famous for her first full-length movie, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. This film was called "the first Iranian vampire western." It was shown for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014. The movie was based on a shorter film she made earlier. That short film won an award for Best Short Film in 2012.

Early Life and Filmmaking Journey

Amirpour was born in Margate, England. Her family moved to Miami, Florida when she was young. They later settled in Bakersfield, California, where she went to high school. She first studied biology in college but changed her mind. She then studied painting and sculpting at San Francisco State University. After that, she learned about screenwriting at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. She started making films when she was just 12 years old.

Amirpour loved movies from the time she moved to the United States in the 1980s. She often talks about how different the culture was. American films, music, and pop culture helped her feel at home. She would often put on shows and remake commercials with a camcorder her dad bought. She didn't plan to be a filmmaker at first.

Ana Lily Amirpour's Film Career

Feature Films by Amirpour

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

Amirpour's first major film was A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. People called it "the first Iranian vampire western." It also had parts of film noir and spaghetti Westerns. The movie stars Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, and Marshall Manesh. It became very popular after it was shown at the Sundance Film Festival.

The film won several awards, including the "Revelations Prize" at the 2014 Deauville Film Festival. It also won the Citizen Kane Award for Best Directorial Revelation. Many people praised the film's unique style. Some even compared Amirpour to famous directors like Quentin Tarantino and Jim Jarmusch. Filmmaker magazine named her one of the "25 New Faces of Independent Film."

This movie shows Amirpour's mixed identity as an Iranian-American. The setting of the film can look like an American neighborhood or Iranian oil fields. The language in the film also has different meanings for Iranian and American viewers.

The Bad Batch (2016)

Amirpour's second feature film was The Bad Batch. She described it as very romantic. The film features actors like Suki Waterhouse, Jason Momoa, Jim Carrey, and Keanu Reeves. It was shown at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival in 2016. The film won the Special Jury prize there.

Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon (2021)

Amirpour's third film is Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon. It stars Jun Jong-seo and Kate Hudson. The movie is an adventure set in New Orleans. It is about a young girl with special powers who escapes from a mental hospital. She meets unexpected friends on her journey. The film was shot in New Orleans in 2019. It premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021.

Cliffhanger (Future Project)

In 2019, Amirpour was set to direct a new version of the 1993 film Cliffhanger. This new movie was planned to have a female main character. Jason Momoa was also going to be in it. However, in 2023, plans changed. The movie will now be a sequel to the original film. Ric Roman Waugh is now the director, and Sylvester Stallone will return to his role.

Short Films by Amirpour

Amirpour made several short films before her first feature film. A short film called A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2011) won an award. It was named "Best Short Film" at the 2012 Noor Iranian Film Festival. Some actors from her later feature film were also in this short.

She also wrote the short film I Feel Stupid (2012). In 2018, Amirpour released a short film for the fashion brand Kenzo. It was called Yo! My Saint. She worked with musicians and actors like Karen O and Michael Kiwanuka on this project.

Television Work

Amirpour has directed episodes for several TV series. In 2016, she directed an episode of Breakthrough for National Geographic Channel.

In 2018, she directed an episode of Legion. In 2019, she directed "A Traveler" for Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone. She directed another episode for Twilight Zone in 2020.

Amirpour also directed the first episode of the crime show Briarpatch in 2020. In 2022, she directed "The Outside" for Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities.

Other Creative Works

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (Comic Series)

After her film A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night came out, Amirpour wrote a comic book series. It had the same name and told more about the main character's past. The comic had two issues, published in 2014.

Amirpour's Unique Style and Themes

Amirpour's films are known for their special look and feel. She often mixes different cultures and film styles. She focuses a lot on creating detailed worlds in her movies. The places where her stories happen are very important. She believes locations are like characters themselves.

Music is also a huge part of her work. Her films have unique soundtracks that help show how characters feel. The music tells you a lot about the people in her stories. This is clear in A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, which blends Iranian and Western influences.

Amirpour's experiences as an Iranian-American influence her films. She often explores themes of being an outsider or different. She says she understands what it's like to feel "other." Her films often feature strong female characters who are outcasts. These characters try to break free from what society expects of them.

Amirpour's films also touch on political ideas. For example, in A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, she highlights rockabilly music. This music style is not accepted in Iran. In Bad Batch, the film critiques modern consumerism. It shows how people can overindulge.

Her movies often use strong visuals more than a lot of talking. She finds it interesting that people notice the lack of dialogue. She believes strong images can tell a powerful story. Her film A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night was nominated for awards for its amazing cinematography.

Many directors have inspired Amirpour, including David Lynch and Francis Ford Coppola. She also finds ideas in all kinds of art, like books, photos, and music. Anne Rice's books influenced A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night. Bruce Lee is another hero for her. Films like The NeverEnding Story and Pulp Fiction have also inspired her.

Filmography

Short films

• Six and a Half (2009)
• True Love (2010)
• Ketab (2010)
• Pashmaloo (2011)
• A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2011)
• Yo! My Saint (for Kenzo) (2017)
• Ride It Out (Homemade Episode 17) (2020)

Feature films

Television

Music videos

Awards and Nominations

See Also

In Spanish: Ana Lily Amirpour para niños

Images for kids

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  Ana Lily Amirpour