Yassamin Maleknasr
Yassamin Maleknasr (also spelt Yasman Malek-Nasr, born 19 May 1955 Tehran, Iran) is an internationally acclaimed Iranian filmmaker and actress.
Career
Yassamin Maleknasr is the first Iranian woman filmmaker to graduate from the University of Southern California in Film and Televisio Production. She did post-graduate work in Drama at Towson State University in Maryland. She made her first short film, Jazz Ballet in the U.S.; then after several years working at American film companies, she returned to Tehran to perform in Dariush Mehrjui's film Sara (1993) for which she won a Best Supporting Actress Award from the Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran. She has also acted in a number of other Iranian features.
In 1995 Ms. Maleknasr directed and acted in her first feature film, "Common Plight" which has turned into a cult movie among Iranians youth. Although an award-winning actress she found purpose behind the camera as a documentary filmmaker and has directed and Produced a wide variety of subjects; children of lepers,"Bababaghi", Iran. The effect of Rumi in various religions "Love and Unity", Turkey and the devastation of the earthquake in ancient city of Bam "Bam, Whisper of the Wind",Iran. During first years of President Khatami area she portrayed the lives of foreign women living in Iran "Iran through Foreign Eyes" In 2002 she took a daring journey with a small crew throughout the war torn Afghanistan and traveled more than 3,000 miles by land to make her acclaimed film, “Afghanistan the lost Truth”. Among festivals the film was screened at Screen Actors Guild, United Nations, World Bank and United States Senate. To this day she is the only person/woman to have taken such journey in Afghanistan by land. Her recent lyrical documentary, "Women of the Silk Road", depicts the lives of four women from four countries of the Silk Road is an exploration of women’s lives today via textile along the ancient trade route. Shot in Iran, Turkey, Oman and Tajikistan. A story of love, courage and hope.
As a woman of Iranian-American background, she is fluent in English, Persian, and Dari. Ms. Maleknasr is a bi-cultural artist uniquely qualified to portrays the many facets of the east to the west. Her humanistic films promote social and economic change resulting in university, NGO discussions and panels. An effective communicator and net worker employing her language skills and awareness of cultural nuances, Ms. Maleknasr has the distinctive ability to gain access to and create intimacy with her subjects.
Her films have been screened at various networks such as Arte, France and Ireland, BBC, Australian and New Zealand networks, TVC Spain, USHUAIA France, plus special screenings at the Screen Actors Guild – Los Angeles, United Nations – New York, World Bank – Washington DC, the United States Senate, and many universities across the United States.[1]
Ms. Maleknasr uses her camera to illuminate the hearts and minds of all people across cultural divides. It is her wish that her films promote understanding between the East and West.