​Cinema was, from the very beginning, supposed to replace reality and truth with imagination and illusion, thus its title of “dream-making factory.” I believe though that today cinema is part of the reality of life, not just a means of entertainment. It has permeated into people’s lives, and I as a cinematographer don’t see myself outside of life, but inside of it. I prefer to pay attention to reality, rather than to dreams and imagination. Perhaps this interest also results from my conditions of life, from the country I live in. I prefer to delve into imagination in other forms of art, such as theatre, photography, and fiction, but not in cinema.
Whether working in cinema, or in theatre, photography, or literature, ​​​​​​​I, however, try to adhere to two principles. My primary principle is attempting to reveal the current conditions of my society while being committed to my “personal views.” My second principle is paying attention to the interaction between the contemporary and the avant-garde art. If the contemporary art is solely concerned with the identity of contemporary art, it would just be one-sided, because if one is concerned only with what is going on “in the present,” one will lose what is to come, the “future.” The contemporary art becomes whole only through interaction with the avant-garde art. For me the two are inseparable​​​​​​​.

Statement

Bahman Motamedian was born in Tehran, Iran. Writer, photographer and director, Motamedian studied at the Experimental Theater Institute and Photography in the Youth Cinema Institute in Tehran. He directed three plays of "Eugene Ionesco" including "The Bald Soprano", "Maid to Marry" and "Jack or the Submission" at theatre and then he moved to the cinema as director and screen writer. Motamedian made his first feature film, titled "Khastegi" ("Sex My Life" aka "Tedium") in 2008. "Khastegi" (Sex My Life) was shown in the official selection of 65th Venice International Film Festival as the "surprise film" in 2008 and it was received the "Brian Award" at this festival. "Khastegi" (Sex My Life) was also nominated for "Queer Lion Award" at Venice Film Festival in 2008. "Khastegi" (Sex My Life) has been screened in many film festivals throughout the world.

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Biography

Directing and Screen Writing:
2008, Khastegi (Sex My Life) Feature Film
2006, A Song for the Dying Documentary
2006, Music and Forgetting Documentary
2001, Aquarium Short Film

Screen Writing for Television Series:
2007, Four Homes [Title in Farsi: Chahar Khoone]
2005, Nights in Barareh [Title in Farsi: Shabhaye Barareh]
2005, Dots [Title in Farsi: Noghtechin]
2004, Do Not Enter [Title in Farsi: Vorod Mamno, Mamno]
2003, Under the City Sky [Title in Farsi: Zire Asemane Shahr]
2002, Untitled [Title in Farsi: Bedone Sharh]
2001, Empyrean Police [Title in Farsi: Polise Asemani]
2000, Number 14 [Title in Farsi: Pelake 14]
2000, Magic Light [Title in Farsi: Cheraghe Jadou]
2000, Eternal Train [Title in Farsi: Ghatare Abadi]

Screen Writing:
2006, Left Handed [Title in Farsi: Chap Dast], Feature Film

Awards & Nominations:
Brian Award, Khastegi (Sex My Life)   
(Venice Film Festival / August 27th to September 6th 2008)

Nominee Queer Lion, Khastegi (Sex My Life)
(Venice Film Festival / August 27th to September 6th 2008)

Nominee Best Film (Venice Horizons Award), Khastegi (Sex My Life)
(Venice Film Festival / August 27th to September 6th 2008)

Awards the first prize, Khastegi (Sex My Life)           
(24th Torino GBLT Film Festival 23 - 3 April 2009 / Torino, Italy)

Special citation (Best producer), Khastegi (Sex My Life)    
(Asia Pacific Festival of 1st Films/ 4 -10 December 2008/ Singapore)
 
The Best Experimental Film, Aquarium                             
(Festival of Nations / 13 - 19 June 2003/Ebensee, Austria)
 
Silver Bear, Aquarium                              
(Festival of Nations / 13 - 19 June 2003/Ebensee, Austria)

Play Directing/ Stage Directing:
1997, Eugene Ionesco’s play Jack or the Submission, Tehran
1997, Eugene Ionesco’s play Maid to Marry, Tehran
1997, Eugene Ionesco’s play The Bald Soprano, Tehran
1995, Eugene Ionesco’s play The Bald Soprano, Tehran

Published Stories:
2010, The Big Overcoat, Short Story Collection (Cheshmeh Publication)
1999, The Sound of Train Whistling, Short Story

Solo Exhibition:
2007, Niyavaran Cafe Art Gallery, Photography, Tehran

Group Exhibition:
1991, Youth Cinema Institute, Photography, Tehran

Educational Backgrounds:
1996, Tehran Azad University, Play Directing, Tehran
1995, Tehran Azad University, Bachelor of Industrial Engineering, Tehran
1994, Experimental Theater Institute, Play Directing, Tehran
1992-1994, Art University, Film Directing, Tehran
1990, Youth Cinema Institute, Photography Diploma, Tehran
1989, High School Diploma, Tehran​​​​​​​

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Filmography & Resume​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Brian Award, Khastegi (Sex My Life)   
(Venice Film Festival / August 27th to September 6th 2008)

Nominee Queer Lion, Khastegi (Sex My Life)
(Venice Film Festival / August 27th to September 6th 2008)

​​​​​​​Nominee Best Film (Venice Horizons Award), Khastegi (Sex My Life)
(Venice Film Festival / August 27th to September 6th 2008)

Awards the first prize, Khastegi (Sex My Life)           
(24th Torino GBLT Film Festival 23 - 3 April 2009 / Torino, Italy)

Special citation (Best producer), Khastegi (Sex My Life)    
(Asia Pacific Festival of 1st Films/ 4 -10 December 2008/ Singapore)
 
The Best Experimental Film, Aquarium                             
(Festival of Nations / 13 - 19 June 2003/Ebensee, Austria)
 
Silver Bear, Aquarium                              
(Festival of Nations / 13 - 19 June 2003/Ebensee, Austria)​​​​​​​

Awards & Nominations​​​​​​​

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