Sudabeh Mortezai

Sudabeh Mortezai (born 1968), is an Austrian–Iranian filmmaker and producer.[1] She is best known as the director of critically acclaimed films Macondo and Joy which won several international awards at film festivals.[2]

Sudabeh Mortezai
Born
Francois L. Woukoache

1968
Ludwigsburg, West Germany (now Germany)
NationalityAustrian
Iranian
Occupation(s)Director, producer, screenwriter
Years active2006–present

Personal life

She was born on 1968 in Ludwigsburg, Germany to Iranian parents. She spent her childhood and youth in Vienna and Tehran.[1]

Career

She moved to Vienna and studied theater, film and media. Then she studied film at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles. During this period, she made various short and documentary films including 2006 documentary Children of the Prophet. It focuses on Iranian mourning rituals for Imam Hossein, the Prophet Mohammad’s grandson.[3]

In 2009, she made Im Bazar der Gender which describes the widespread practice of temporary marriage in Shiite Islam.[4] Later in 2014, she made her maiden feature film Macondo. The film is the portrait of a Chechen refugee boy. It was invited to the 64th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale competition),[5] and competed for Golden Bear Award.

After the success of the film, she made her second feature film Joy in 2018.[6] It revolves around the story of a Nigerian woman on a voyage to find freedom. The film received critical acclaim and won several awards at different international film festivals. The film was invited to the 75th Venice Film Festival in the section Giornate degli Autori.[7] Then she won the Europa Cinemas Label as Best European Film in the Giornate degli Autori section of the Venice Film Festival.[8] In the meantime, he co-founded the film production company 'FreibeuterFilm'.[1] The film also won the first Hearst Film Award for Best Female Director.[9]

In October 2018, the film won the award for the Best Film at BFI London Film Festival.[10] At 54th Chicago International Film Festival, the film won Silver Hugo Special Jury Award.[11] Then in December 2018, the film received the Golden Star for best film at the Marrakech International Film Festival[12]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleGenreRef.
2006Children of the ProphetDirector, writerDocumentary
2009Im Bazar der GeschlechterDirector, writerDocumentary
2014MacondoDirector, writerFilm
2018JoyDirector, writerFilm[13]
2023EuropaDirector, writerFilm

References
  1. "Sudabeh Mortezai: Director, producer". dok. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. "Sudabeh Mortezai". viennale. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  3. "Berlin Women Directors: Meet Sudabeh Mortezai". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. "In the Gender Bazaar: "Mullahs like to talk about sex"". diepresse. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. "Macondo". berlinale. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  6. "Success for Mortezai's "Joy" in Venice". ots. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  7. "21 films compete for the Golden Lion in Venice". kleinezeitung. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  8. "Sudabeh Mortezai wins Europa Cinemas Venice Label". giornatedegliautori. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  9. "Sudabeh Mortezai wins the first Hearst Film Award". giornatedegliautori. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  10. "2018 competition winners announced at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival". British Film Institute. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  11. "Awards Announced for 54th Chicago International Film Festival". Chicago Film Festival. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  12. "Sudabeh Mortezai's "Joy" Wins Best Film at Marrakech Fest". Women and Hollywood. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  13. "Rain of prizes and good occupancy". viennale18. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
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