Maajara Film School

Maajara Film School is an independent film school located in Tehran, Iran. Launched in 2021 by the internationally-acclaimed Iranian director Behnam Behzadi, Maajara Film School provides professional education and technical expertise in the art and technique of filmmaking for young talents and avid enthusiasts all across Iran and around the world.

History

Founded in 2021 by internationally-acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Behnam Behzadi, Maajara Film School was initially led by Iranian art director and brand manager Mahdi Shahsavar as CEO and Iranian filmmaker Sepide Berenji as the educational administrator. Since 2023, Sepide Berenji has been acting as CEO, alongside Ameen Bagheri as the Creative and Art Director.

Programs

Maajara's educational cycle consists of three steps: Classic Courses, Mentorship Programs, and Filmmaking and Acting Camps. Students begin by taking part in Classis Courses on realms such as filmmaking, screenwriting, editing, and acting.

They simultaneously have the opportunity to participate in personalized mentorship programs in their respective fields. Maajara is the first Iranian film school to have mentorship programs in the field of cinema.

Finally, during two weeks, Maajara's annual filmmaking and acting camps allow students to hone their practical filmmaking and performance skills, resulting in creating collaborative student-led projects.

Notable Mentors

Some of the notable mentors and instructors at Maajara Film School include internationally acclaimed filmmakers and artists such as:

  • Behnam Behzadi: An internationally acclaimed Iranian director whose films have received multiple awards from national and international film festivals. His latest feature film Inversion (film) (2016) appeared in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival.
  • Arian Vazirdaftari: An Iranian film director whose short films have won numerous awards from international film festivals and his debut feature Without Her screened at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti section.
  • Soheila Golestani: An Iranian actress and film director, internationally known for her leading role in the Academy Award nominated film The Seed of the Sacred Fig, directed by Mohammad Rasoulof.
  • Majid Barzegar: An Iranian film director, producer, screenwriter, and photographer, who established his own film company Rainy pictures in 2005 with the aim of stimulating the independent film production in Iran.