Mojtaba Bahadori

Biography:

Mojtaba Bahadori is a Franco-Iranian filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist whose work transcends artistic boundaries, crafting deeply personal and evocative narratives. He studied cinema at the University of Art in Tehran and continued his education in Paris, where he collaborated with the renowned Louis Lumière School, further refining his skills as a cinematographer and film editor. Mojtaba’s photography earned him the IBDAA Award, and his installations and exhibitions have been shown in France, Belgium, and the UAE. His curiosity extended beyond the cinematic world when he pursued gemology studies in Antwerp, Belgium, where he delved into the intricate beauty of stones and minerals. He has created visuals for some of the biggest brands in the jewelry world, such as Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tache, and Tolkowsky. He has also filmed and documented some of the world’s most important diamonds, including the Legend of Lesotho. This unique exploration of the natural world has become a profound source of inspiration for his visual art, reflecting his deep connection to both nature and the human experience. In his films, Mojtaba often merges poetry and literature with self-reflection. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of learning in person from filmmakers such as Chantal Akerman, Abbas Kiarostami, and Béla Tarr. His cinematic style is characterized by poetic minimalism and conceptualism. His film, On Melting Snow, explores the intricate relationship between humanity, nature, and art, examining how creativity can capture and convey the fragile balance of the natural world. The feature film On Melting Snow won the 2024 COP29 Prize from the United Nations for Climate Change.