
Alireza Khatami
Directing
Biography
Alireza Khatami is an award-winning writer, director, and producer based in Canada. Born into the indigenous Khamse tribe in southeast Iran, Alireza draws from the rich oral storytelling traditions of his heritage, crafting a unique style blending magic realism with sharp social commentary. Known for his bold cinematic choices defying convention, his films unravel the invisible architecture of power, tracing societal systems and psychological forces that shape human behavior and identity. Alireza began as an assistant director alongside esteemed filmmakers, including two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi. His debut feature, Oblivion Verses, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2017, garnering critical acclaim and winning multiple awards, including the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay and the FIPRESCI prize. His second feature, Terrestrial Verses (co-directed with Ali Asgari), premiered in the Un Certain Regard competition at Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and has been theatrically released in more than 15 countries. Alireza's boundary-pushing third feature, The Things You Kill, earned him the Best Director Award at the World Dramatic Competition of Sundance Film Festival 2025.
Known For

Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather lives in seclusion on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny, their connection threatens to unravel Heather's suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.
My Animal

Bahram is a 40-year-old filmmaker who’s spent his entire career making films in Turkish-Azeri, none of which have ever been screened in Iran. His latest work, once again denied permission by the Ministry of culture, pushes him to the edge of defiance. With his sharp-tongued, Vespa-riding producer Sadaf by his side, he embarks on an underground mission to showcase his film to an Iranian audience, dodging government censors, absurd bureaucracy, and his own self- doubts.
Divine Comedy

When the elderly caretaker of a remote morgue discovers the body of a young woman killed during a protest, he embarks on a magical odyssey to give her a proper burial before the militia returns.
Oblivion Verses

Questioning the suspicious death of his mother, a university professor and his enigmatic gardener descend into a hypnotic maze of mirrors and memories. As family secrets surface and painful truths emerge, they spiral toward a devastating reckoning with the darkness lurking within us all.
The Things You Kill

Lantouri is the name of a gang that mugs people in broad daylight on the streets of Tehran and breaks into homes in the city’s rich northern district. The gang also kidnaps children from families who have become wealthy through corruption and embezzlement of state funds. The film begins with the confessions of individual gang members. Sociologists, human rights activists and political hardliners also have their say. Gang member Pasha runs amok because Maryam, a socially committed, self-confident journalist, does not reciprocate his feelings. The badly injured young woman demands lex talionis – the law, applicable in Iran, of ‘an eye for an eye’.
Lantouri

A satirical take on the mundane absurdities of life in modern-day Iran, these nine vignettes illuminate the lighter side of enduring under authoritarian rule. Whether choosing a name for a newborn, graduating from grade school, getting a driver’s license, applying for a job, or seeking approval for a film script, if you live in Iran, you best come fluent in Orwellian discourse.
Terrestrial Verses

A collaborative project consisting four young generation of Taiwan directors, and four young foreign directors from Chile, France, Iran, and South Korea.Without being acquainted previously before meeting each other in Taipei, the eight of them shared their life experiences, and then co-wrote and co-directed four short films based on impressions and imaginations of a city.
Taipei Factory

Rokas and Inga, a couple of young Lithuanians, volunteer to drive a cargo van of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. They cross the vast snowy lands of the Donbass region, drifting into the lives of those affected by the war.
Frost

Student Fereshteh has to hide her illegitimate baby for one night from her parents who turn up for a surprise visit. Her friend Atefeh helps her. They embark on an odyssey through Tehran during which they must carefully weigh up who their allies are.
Until Tomorrow

A stop-motion short film about a seahorse that is swept away from its coral reef and must survive the journey home.
The Lost Seahorse

A man wakes up in the middle of the night asking his wife: 'Do I play tennis?' His spends the next day finding an answer to his question which appears to be only the tip of an iceberg.
Elephant in the Street

The boundaries between fiction and reality blur when an aspiring actress is hired to play the missing daughter of a grieving couple.
Eleanor in the Evening

No description available.
Punggok Rindukan Bulan

After the of premiere of his film Terrestrial Verses (co-directed by Alireza Khatami) in Cannes, Ali Asgari was banned from traveling by the Iranian authorities. But filmmakers like Asgari are not easily deterred from practicing their art, despite unceasing repressive government interference.
Higher than Acidic Clouds
As Ahu attempts to overcome insomnia in her new apartment, her life becomes increasingly entangled with her troubled neighbour.
Ahu

Toby fights to escape after being kidnapped by his wife and priest for their proposed mass suicide, but when his captors contact the Hereafter by calling on the phone and someone he once knew picks it up, he must choose what to believe in.
Sangría Sundays (or Bottoms Up, Mr. Toby!)

Mr. Chang's life changes dramatically when his home disappears from the face of the Earth. On the quest to find his home, he has to rethink his identity and existence.
Mr. Chang's New Address

Minutely told short story about an old photographer with a magic photo camera. Photos taken with the camera can reveal whether one's true partner has been found. Not everyone dares be photographed and even the photographer has his doubts.
Focal Point

When it comes time for Justin to confront his past, he finds that his memory is elusive, and only a moment with his estranged sister will lead him to the truth.
Rain Dog

A young veterinary student has a confusing encounter that plunges him into a journey of self-discovery in this impeccably-observed short featuring bold visuals and a subtle lead performance.