Mania Akbari facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mania Akbari مانيا اكبری
Akbari in 2014
Born	1974 (age 50–51) Tehran, Iran
Occupation	Film director, screenwriter, artist, writer
Years active	1991–present
Children	2, including Amina

Mania Akbari (born 1974) is a famous filmmaker, artist, and writer from Iran. Her work often explores important topics like women's rights, marriage, personal identity, and health.

Her films are known for being very personal and honest. This is different from many other movies made in Iranian cinema. Because she openly discussed topics that were considered sensitive in Iran, she became known as a controversial filmmaker.

From 2007 to 2010, Akbari created many artworks using photography. These were shown in galleries all over the world. She continued making films until 2011. While she was making a film, some of her team members were arrested by the government for filming without a permit. Fearing she could also be arrested, Akbari left her home in Tehran and moved to London.

Since moving to London, many of her films have been shown at special events. These events, called retrospectives, have taken place at famous locations like the BFI in London and the Danish Film Institute.

Early Life and Career

Mania Akbari was born in 1974 in Tehran, the capital of Iran. She began her career as a painter in 1991. Her paintings were shown in exhibitions in Iran and other countries. Soon, she became interested in movies and started working on documentary films.

First Steps in Filmmaking

In 2002, Akbari and her family appeared in a film called Ten. The film was a mix of documentary and fiction. The next year, she directed her first short film, a documentary called Crystal.

In 2004, she wrote, directed, and starred in her first full-length movie, 20 Fingers. The film, which explores ideas about marriage and identity, was a big success. It won the top prize in its category at the famous Venice Film Festival.

Exploring Art and Life on Film

Between 2004 and 2007, Akbari created a series of six short films called video art. These were shown at film festivals and museums, including the Tate Modern in London.

In 2007, Akbari was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her experiences inspired her next film, 10+4. In the film, she explores what it feels like to face a serious illness. The movie was shown at major events like the Cannes Film Festival and in museums like the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

Leaving Iran and Continuing Her Work

In 2010, Akbari made a documentary about a young man's execution called 30 Minutes To 6. At this time, it was becoming harder to make films freely in Iran. Despite the challenges, she made another movie called One. Two. One.

While working on her next film, other filmmakers in Iran were arrested. Because Akbari believed in freedom of expression, she decided to leave the country. She moved to London and finished the film there, renaming it From Tehran to London.

Films Made in London

In 2014, Akbari worked with British filmmaker Mark Cousins to create a unique film called Life May Be. It is an essay film, which is like a visual essay that explores ideas.

In 2019, she co-directed another essay film, A Moon for My Father, with the artist Douglas White. One critic described it as a "dream-like" movie that connects different images and ideas.

In 2022, she released How Dare You Have Such a Rubbish Wish. This film uses clips from old Iranian movies made before the 1979 revolution to tell a new story about women.

Cinematic Style

Akbari's films have a unique look. She often uses long, continuous shots (called long takes) and a hand-held camera, which makes the film feel more personal and real. She has said that the space where she films is very important to her.

She explained her process in an interview: "When I'm creating my frame, I really want it so that when each frame is seen the audience can imagine the space surrounding it themselves... It's as if I create a space for every single character and they come and perform within that space."

Awards and Recognition

Mania Akbari has won many awards for her work. Here are some of them:

• Best Film at the Venice Film Festival for 20 Fingers.
• Grand Jury Prize at the Bahamas International Film Festival.
• Best Director and Best Actress for 20 Fingers at a film festival in Barcelona, Spain.
• Best Film and Best Director for 10+4 at the Kerala International Film Festival.
• Winner of the Don Quixote Award for Life May Be at a festival in Switzerland.
• Winner of the NEW:VISION award for A Moon for My Father at a festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Filmography

• Crystal (2003)
• 20 Fingers (2004)
• 10 + 4 (2007)
• One. Two. One. (2011)
• 30 minutes to 6 (2011)
• From Tehran to London (2012)
• Life May Be (2014)
• A Moon for My Father (2019)
• Dear Elnaz (2020)
• How Dare You Have Such a Rubbish Wish (2022)

See also

In Spanish: Mania Akbari para niños