Berkeley to host 'first lady' of Iranian film during BAMPFA series

The two-month Iranian film series at BAMPFA will feature the work of acclaimed director Rakhshan Banietemad.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:48pm

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The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is hosting a two-month series of Iranian films this spring, offering a layered look at life in the country with a focus on the stories of women. At the center of the series is the work of award-winning filmmaker Rakhshan Banietemad, known as the 'first lady' of Iranian cinema, who will visit Berkeley next month to discuss her films.

Why it matters

The Iranian Cinema: From Aesthetics to Politics series provides a timely and nuanced perspective on Iranian society, particularly the experiences of women, during a period of ongoing political turmoil in the country. Banietemad's films push against censorship and patriarchal cultural practices while illuminating everyday life, environmental issues, and the long-term impacts of war.

The details

The series will screen several of Banietemad's films, including 'All My Trees' (2015), 'Under the Skin of the City' (2001), and 'Gilaneh' (2005). Her films depict the textures of everyday life in Iran, covering topics like environmental degradation, poverty, and the burden of care work, while also challenging state censorship and patriarchal norms. The series also features other prominent Iranian films from the 1970s onward, offering a layered look at Iranian society and cinema.

  • The Iranian Cinema: From Aesthetics to Politics series runs through April 23, 2026 at BAMPFA.
  • Rakhshan Banietemad will visit Berkeley next month to discuss her films as part of the series.

The players

Rakhshan Banietemad

An award-winning Iranian filmmaker known as the 'first lady' of Iranian cinema, who emerged in the wake of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Her films depict the textures of everyday life in Iran, covering topics like environmental issues and the burden of care work, while also challenging state censorship and patriarchal cultural practices.

Minoo Moallem

The curator of the Iranian Cinema: From Aesthetics to Politics series at BAMPFA and a professor at UC Berkeley. She explains that the series traces Iran's New Wave cinema from the 1970s onward.

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What they’re saying

“Her films depict the textures of everyday life.”

— Minoo Moallem, Series curator and UC Berkeley professor

“The Iranian Cinema: From Aesthetics to Politics spans multiple decades, offering a layered look at life in Iran with a focus on the stories of women.”

— Minoo Moallem, Series curator and UC Berkeley professor

What’s next

Rakhshan Banietemad will visit Berkeley next month to discuss her films as part of the Iranian Cinema: From Aesthetics to Politics series at BAMPFA.

The takeaway

The BAMPFA film series provides a timely and nuanced perspective on Iranian society, particularly the experiences of women, during a period of ongoing political turmoil in the country. The work of acclaimed director Rakhshan Banietemad is at the center of the series, offering an intimate look at everyday life in Iran while challenging censorship and patriarchal norms.