Trivia

Jean-Luc Godard has said, "Film begins with D.W. Griffith and ends with Abbas Kiarostami." According to Martin Scorsese, "Kiarostami represents the highest level of artistry in the cinema." When these words are quoted in front of Kiarostami, he winces most charmingly. "This admiration is perhaps more appropriate after I am dead," he says.

Upon accepting a prize at the Cannes Film Festival for Taste of Cherry (1997), he received a hug and kiss from presenter Catherine Deneuve. Since public physical contacts between members of the opposite sexes, who are unrelated to one another, are banned by the Islamic government in Iran, Kiarostami's home country, he didn't return to his Tehran home for a week.

According to himself, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Andrei Tarkovsky, Federico Fellini and Theo Angelopoulos are on a similar wavelength as him.

Received the UNESCO Fellini-Medal in Gold for his achievements in film, freedom, peace, and tolerance. (1997)

On 9 March 2010 published an open letter in a Tehran newspaper, calling for the release of two directors, detained by the authorities on 1 March 2010. "Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof are two filmmakers of the Iranian independent cinema, a cinema that for the past quarter of a century has served as an essential cultural element in expanding the name of this country across the globe. They belong to an expanded world culture, and are a part of international cinematic culture." Rasoulof was released from ward 209 of the Evin prison on 17 March 2010.

In order to support his studies, worked as a traffic policeman.

In addition to making films, Abbas Kiarostami wrote several books of poetry, had his photographs exhibited and directed a production of Mozart's "Così Fan Tutte" in Aix-en-Provence, France, in 2008.

Professor at La Femis (Paris)

Was the president of the Camera d'or Jury in Cannes Film Festival 2005.

Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993

Recipient of the Lifetime Achievment Award at the 2005 Yerevan International Film Festival, which later became the Sergei Parajanov Award and was presented to Mohsen Makhmalbaf in 2006.

His film, Close-up (1992), ranked #42 in British Film Institute's The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time in 2012.

Head of Jury of Montréal World Film Festival in 2000.

He was made a Fellow of the British Film Institute in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film culture.

His film Where Is the Friend's House? (1987) was shown at the Channel 4 (UK) premiere for the Iranian film season.

Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1995.

Son Ahmad was born in 1971, son Bahman was born in 1978.

Retrospective at the 28th São Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil (2004)

Lives in Tehran.

In Baku, Azerbaijan: Provided master class during the 8th START International Youth Film Festival (November 2012)

Member of the 'Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' (AMPAS) since 2016. Ironically, he died a few days after his invitation was officially announced.

He was one of the guests of honor at the Midnightsun Filmfestival in Sodankylä in 2007.

Interviewed in "World Directors in Dialogue" by Bert Cardullo (Scarecrow Press, 2011).

Retrospective at the 54th Cartagena Film Festival (2014 edition), Colombia.

He has two sons, Ahmad and Bahman, from his marriage to Parvin Amir-Gholi, which ended in divorce.

In London, directing a performance of Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte (May 2009)

Member of the 'Cinéfondation and Short Films' jury at the 55th Cannes International Film Festival in 2002.

Knows artist Behzad Yahaghi.

His film, Ten (2002), ranked #76 in The Guardian The 100 best films of the 21st century (2019).