A portrait of Iranian film editor Hossein Zandbaf

Hossein Zandbaf, born on April 13, 1946, in the Iranian city of Sari, has carved a remarkable legacy as one of the most prominent film editors and producers in Iranian cinema.

His journey into the world of film began with a newspaper advertisement for enrollment at the Cinema and Television School, sparking a lifelong passion for filmmaking.

Zandbaf made his professional debut in 1971 with the film ‘Aziz Gherghi’, marking the start of a distinguished career that spans over five decades.

While Zandbaf is widely recognized for his mastery in film editing, he has also made significant contributions as a producer.

His close ties to the Iranian film industry and collaboration with leading filmmakers have further solidified his status as a key figure in cinema.

Over the years, he has honed his skills and established himself as a top editor, shaping many acclaimed films.

One of Zandbaf's most prolific years was 2003, during which he worked on three major films: ‘A Butterfly in the Wind’, ‘The Lizard’, and ‘Hiyam’.

These films, particularly ‘The Lizard’, not only achieved commercial success but also showed Zandbaf's talent in film editing.

Throughout his career, Zandbaf has been honored with four Crystal Simorgh awards from the Fajr International Film Festival. His first Crystal Simorgh came in 1983 for ‘White Death’ at the 2nd edition of the festival, where he won the best editing award.

He continued to impress, earning a second Crystal Simorgh for ‘The Bus’ at the 4th edition of the Fajr Film Festival in 1986.

His third came two years later for ‘The Station’, and his fourth for ‘The Devil’s Eye’ in 1994 at the 12th Fajr Film Festival.

In 1995, Zandbaf won his final Crystal Simorgh for ‘Attack on H3’, further cementing his legacy as one of Iran’s finest editors.

Zandbaf’s name is attached to some of the most beloved and influential Iranian films, including ‘From Karkheh to Rhein’, 'Two and a Half People', ‘The Train’, ‘The Exiles’, ‘Scent of Joseph’, ‘Migrant’, ‘Savalan’, and ‘Grey’.

As a producer, Zandbaf has also found success, with projects like ‘Apaches’, ‘Bright Nights’, ‘Mummy 3’, 'The Pastry Girl', ‘Mother Tongue’, ‘The Countdown’, and ‘The Journey’. Additionally, he served as an executive producer on films such as ‘Disobedience’ and ‘Downwards’.

In recognition of his contributions to Iranian cinema, Zandbaf was awarded the first-class artistic degree and became a member of the Iranian Veteran Artists Institute in March 2017.

With a career marked by innovation, dedication, and excellence, Hossein Zandbaf remains an influential force in the world of cinema, inspiring future generations of filmmakers.

iFilm English website wishes him many more years of success and creativity in his career.

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