Ali Zare Ghanat Nowi

Ali Zare Ghanatnowi is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, translator, cinema teacher, graphic designer, cameraman, and film producer.

Zare was born in Shiraz in 1981.

His first experience as a very young teenager was at Iran National Broadcasting in Fars Province channel in 1997.

He continued it into his late teens because of his early interest in cinema and theater beginning in high school.

So, before leaving home to study at University of Tehran and then Berlin School, he had some experience with cinema and film-making that supported his studies.

In 1999 Zare worked in a TV project named Didgah (View) as the editor, assistant director, and writer.

It was a program which was broadcast in Fars Province channel and had discussions about the films by some critiques following the film being displayed.

They were the latest important foreign movies with Persian subtitles.

Meanwhile, Zare was also the writer of Iran, Sale Sefr, (Iran, the year zero), a radio play about Iran one hundred years later.

An author who has been abroad for many years returns to Iran and faces new conditions and different situations.

An active film-maker from 2000, he had been involved in over twenty films, including animations, shorts, and documentaries.

In 2000, Zare pursued his ambition to be a director by making HandiCrafts in Fars Province.

It was a 13-part TV documentary about local people making handicrafts.

It used folklore music while showing their handicrafts.

Following this, Zare wrote and directed his first short film Paeeze Khakestari (2000) meaning Gray Autumn.

It tells the story of a man who has been lost for four years and has lost his memory.

Now he faces some familiar surroundings, until the reason of his lost and losing his memory is discovered.

In the same year, Zare helped in directing and editing Mosabegheh Delavar Mardane Fat'h, (Gallant Guys Conquer) a 52-part TV match with military members participating to gain more score and win.

In 2001, Zare was busy as the editor of Jahan Nama (World View).

It was a 52-part documentary about fantastic places worldwide with a different editing method which he himself did the sounding too.

That year he also released his second short film.

Barandegan Chizi Nemibarand (Winners Win Nothing), written and directed by him, and it has a story about a soldier who has come back from the war as a shell-shocked ill man.

He is still in the mindset of war then some filmmakers find him.

Zare edited a short film called Vahe (2003) meaning Oasis.

Around 2004 to 2013, in Shiraz film club, had been active in holding film and criticism meetings.

Most of these meetings were hold in Shiraz University and Hafez hall about famous movies by great directors.

In 2004 he founded Cinema School in Shiraz

. As a manager and teacher in Cinema School, he made many workshops about cinema, criticism, editing, screenwriting, make-up etc. Beside himself teaching, he invited many important people like Saeed Aghighi, Farzad Motamen, Mohammadreza Aslani, Mahmoud Kalari, Mehri Shirazi, Homayoun As'adian, Zhila Mehrjooii, Mohammad Aalaadpoosh, Jamal Mirsadeghi, Rahim Hoodi etc.

In 2004, he wrote and directed MIT.

This industrial documentary revolved around introducing an educational package called MIT in a university.

As a director and cameraman, he worked in making some TV commercials and advertising from 2006 to 2016.

In 2006 Zare directed and wrote a video art: Makoo.

Zare attained critical acclaim for directing Empty View (2017) and Dad's Fragile Doll (2013) which was awarded the best animation of International Open Film Festival (IOFF).

His other film Empty View has won multiple international awards, including the best animation of Asians On Film (first award and the best film music).

The music part in Empty View is made by Mohammadreza Aligholi.

Empty view has been in the official selections for the best animation in Edmonton International Film Festival in Canada.

This festival is among those confirmed by Oscar Academy that is held every year in Edmonton, Alberta.

Ali Zare Ghanat Nowi, who had achieved this before by Dad's Fragile Doll being selected in Anima Mundi (event), now again reached this place by Empty View.

His Empty View book was translated and published in France in 2021.