A portrait of Iranian sound designer Mohammad Reza Delpak

Born in Tehran in 1955, Mohammad Reza Delpak has carved a niche for himself in the world of sound design and mixing.

With a career spanning five decades, Delpak has worked in over 100 feature films and 45 documentaries.

Holding both a master's degree and an honorary doctorate in arts, Delpak’s journey in sound design began in 1974, and he has been a pioneering force ever since.

Delpak introduced the term "Sound Designing" to the Iranian film industry in 1994 with the feature film ‘The Fateful Day’.

His innovative approach and dedication have made him a sought-after collaborator for some of Iran's most prominent directors, including Majid Majidi, the late Abbas Kiarostami, and Asghar Farhadi.

His work has been a cornerstone in internationally acclaimed films, bringing Iranian cinema to global audiences.

Among Delpak’s extensive filmography, several standout projects have showed his talent:

1. ‘Muhammad: The Messenger of God’ (2015) - Delpak's role as supervising sound editor in this epic film was critical in creating an immersive auditory experience.

2. ‘Children of Heaven’ (1998) - This heartwarming film, which earned an Oscar nomination, benefited from Delpak's professional sound editing.

3. ‘The Song of Sparrows’ (2008) - Delpak’s sound design in this film added depth to its narrative.

4. ‘Taste of Cherry’ (1997) - The sound design by Delpak in this Palme d'Or-winning film by Abbas Kiarostami highlighted his ability to enhance cinematic storytelling through sound.

Other notable films include:

‘A Separation’(2011), ‘The Salesman’ (2016), ‘About Elly’ (2009), 'God is Near' (2007), ‘The Wind Will Carry Us’ (1999), ‘The Willow Tree’ (2005), ‘The Color of Paradise’ (1999), ‘The Mirror’ (1997) and ‘Offside’ (2006)

Delpak's excellence in sound design has been recognized with numerous awards. Notably, he has won the Crystal Simorgh at the Fajr Film Festival multiple times. His achievements include:

- Best Sound and Mix at the 32nd Fajr Film Festival for ‘Lantouri’

- Best Sound and Mix at the 31st Fajr Film Festival for ‘Berlin 7’

- Best Sound and Mix at the 20th Fajr Film Festival for ‘Travel to Tomorrow’

- Best Sound and Mix at the 17th Fajr Film Festival for ‘The Color of Paradise’

Delpak's contributions extend beyond national recognition; his work has been featured at international festivals such as Cannes, BAFTA, Berlin, Venice, Golden Globe, and Locarno.

Since 2016, he has also served as a member and jury of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

iFilm English TV wishes Mohammad Reza Delpak many more years of success and creativity.  

More profile articles:

Touraj Mansouri

Darioush Mehrjouee

Shahab Hosseini

Majid Entezami

Saeed Nikpour

Kamand Amir-Soleymani

Mahmoud Pakniyyat

Farhad Fakhreddini

Akbar Abdi

Hossein Soheilizadeh

Gholamreza Ramezani

Farajollah Salahshour

Seifollah Daad

Bahram Tavakkoli

Ebrahim Forouzesh

Amir Jadidi

Ebrahim Hatamikia

Ali Nasiriyan

Sorayya Qasemi

Yadollah Samadi

Bita Farrahi

Amir-Mohammad Zand 

Mahmoudi brothers

Laya Zanganeh

Behrang Tofiqi

Hamid Labkhandeh

Abdollah Eskandari

Jalal Moayyerian

Mehri Shirazi

Bijan Mohtasham

Morteza Kohzadi

Mahmoud Kalari

Morteza Najafi

Peyman Shadmanfar

Farshad Golsefidi

Alireza Zarrin-Dast

Hamid Khozouee Abyaneh

Reza Sheikhi

Morteza Hodaee

Mohammad Aladpoush

MM/MM