Alireza Khatami

Birthday: 1980-01-01
Birthplace: Iran
Gender: Male

Alireza Khatami is an award-winning writer, director, and producer based in Canada. Born into the indigenous Khamse tribe in southeast Iran, Alireza draws from the rich oral storytelling traditions of his heritage, crafting a unique style blending magic realism with sharp social commentary. Known for his bold cinematic choices defying convention, his films unravel the invisible architecture of power, tracing societal systems and psychological forces that shape human behavior and identity.

Alireza began as an assistant director alongside esteemed filmmakers, including two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi. His debut feature, Oblivion Verses, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2017, garnering critical acclaim and winning multiple awards, including the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay and the FIPRESCI prize. His second feature, Terrestrial Verses (co-directed with Ali Asgari), premiered in the Un Certain Regard competition at Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and has been theatrically released in more than 15 countries.

Alireza's boundary-pushing third feature, The Things You Kill, earned him the Best Director Award at the World Dramatic Competition of Sundance Film Festival 2025.

Credits

Year Title
2025-04-25 The Things You Kill
2023-10-05 Terrestrial Verses
2018-05-31 Oblivion Verses
2013-05-01 Taipei Factory
2013-05-01 When the Curtain Falls
2013-05-01 Rain Dog
2013-05-01 Mr. Chang's New Address
2011-05-01 Elephant in the Street
2009-05-01 Focal Point
2008-05-01 An Orange Butterfly
2007-05-01 Without Condemnation