Directing

Amir Masoud Soheili

Amir Masoud Soheili is an award-winning Iranian filmmaker, festival programmer, and photographer, best known for his acclaimed short films Blue-eyed Boy (2014), Elephantbird (2019), and MARDAZMA (2025). His works have been screened at prestigious events including PÖFF – Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Leeds International Film Festival, Interfilm Berlin, and Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival in Japan. He has served as a jury member at numerous film festivals worldwide, including the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival in Indonesia (2015), Avanca International Film Festival in Portugal (2016 and 2018), SAARC Film Festival in Sri Lanka (2017), International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala in India (2018), Malatya International Film Festival in Turkey (2018), Dhaka International Youth Film Festival in Bangladesh (2020), Accra Indie Film Festival in Ghana (2022), Chaktomuk Short Film Festival in Cambodia (2022), Azeméis Film Festival in Portugal (2022), Starling Short Film Festival in the UK (2023), Alternativa Film Awards in Indonesia (2024), and Bueu International Film Festival in Spain (2026). Masoud is the co-founder and creative director of the Asia Peace Film Festival in Islamabad, Pakistan. He also programs for several international festivals, including the Changing Perspective International Film Festival in Istanbul, Turkey; Minikino Film Week in Bali, Indonesia; Chaktomuk Short Film Festival in Cambodia; and The Bay International Film Festival in the United Kingdom. In 2017, he directed the inaugural Safe Community International Film Festival in Mashhad, Iran. His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in law from Ferdowsi University, followed by a year of film studies at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts in Yogyakarta. He was a fellow of the Asian Film Academy in 2016 and studied International Film Business at the Busan Asian Film School in 2018. Masoud completed a Master’s degree in Screenwriting through Kino Eyes – The European Film Masters, studying across Lisbon (Portugal), Tallinn (Estonia), and Edinburgh (Scotland), graduating in 2024. Beyond filmmaking, Masoud’s expertise in visual storytelling extends to photography and videography, with work featured on leading platforms such as National Geographic, AJ+, VICE Media, TRT, Great Big Story, VOA, KBS, and Business Insider. He has produced several documentaries, including Co-exist, Veiled Village, and Land of Demons. His debut photography book, Durian on My Head, published in both Iran and Indonesia, reflects his rich visual explorations across these countries