Fathollah Amiri

Biography of

Fathollah Amiri

Fathollah Amiri is a highly acclaimed Iranian documentary filmmaker specializing in environmental and wildlife films. With over two decades of experience, Amiri has produced numerous documentaries that explore the rich biodiversity of Iran and raise awareness about critical environmental issues. His work has earned him over 50 national and 20 international awards, cementing his reputation as one of Iran’s leading environmental filmmakers.

Amiri’s film Ranger and Leopard received the prestigious Green Screen award in Germany in 2018. His documentary Vortex won the top prize at the 33rd Sondrio Festival in Italy in 2019. Amiri has also served as a jury member for esteemed festivals, including the Matsalu Nature Film Festival in Estonia (2019) and the Sondrio Environmental Film Festival in Italy (2020).

In Iran, Amiri has been recognized with some of the country’s most significant awards, including the Crystal Simorgh for Best Feature Documentary at the Fajr International Film Festival in 2011 for In Search of the Iranian Leopard. He also won the Grand Prize at the Cinema Verite Festival in 2014 for Life in Cold Veins and received multiple Cypress Awards at the Jam-e Jam TV Festival for works like Reptiles of Iran (2013) and The Ranger and the Leopard (2018).

Amiri holds a Master’s degree in Documentary Production from IRIB University and continues to be a prominent voice in Iranian cinema, inspiring global audiences with his thought-provoking films on wildlife and environmental conservation.

Awards

  • Crystal Simorgh for Best Feature DocumentaryIn Search of the Iranian Leopard (2011)
  • Grand Prize for Best FilmLife in Cold Veins, Cinema Verite Festival (2014)
  • Cypress Award for Best Documentary SeriesReptiles of Iran, Jam-e Jam TV Festival (2013)
  • Cypress Award for Best Documentary DirectorRanger and Leopard, Jam-e Jam TV Festival (2018)
  • Best Documentary – National Student Film Festival, Life in Eclipse (2009)
  • Wildscreen Award (Green Oscar)In the Realm of the Spider-Tailed Viper (2018)
  • Best Film: Humans and NatureRanger and Leopard, Jackson Wild Festival (2017)
  • Panda Award WinnerIn the Realm of the Spider-Tailed Viper (2018)

Professional Affiliations

Fathollah Amiri is a member of:

  • Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association
  • Iranian Documentary Cinema Producers Association
  • Environmental Committee of IRIB

Recent Works by Fathollah Amiri

The village dogs are vanishing one by one… But those footprints don’t belong to humans! As fear spreads, the villagers turn to experts to uncover the truth behind the mysterious predator lurking in the shadows…
A gripping documentary exposing the plight of the Houbara Bustard, a vulnerable bird trafficked from Iran to Persian Gulf nations. Over 9 years, the film unveils the black market trade threatening its survival.
A six-year quest across Iran’s wilderness to document the last Asiatic Cheetahs. Tanhavash showcases the struggle to save this endangered species, revealing stunning landscapes and the urgent fight for Iran’s natural heritage.
A gripping quest to find Iran’s rare Spider-Tailed Horned Viper—a predator with a spider-mimicking tail—unfolds into a tale of conservation and redemption.
Vortex explores the challenges and threats facing Asiatic cheetahs in Iran’s habitats, highlighting conservation efforts and scientific studies to save this critically endangered species from extinction.
A six-year quest through Iran’s Alborz Mountains to document the elusive Persian leopard. Battling harsh terrain and isolation, a team of filmmakers races to capture rare footage of this endangered predator before it’s too late.
In the mountains of Isfahan, ranger Halvani seeks to prove the Persian leopard’s presence. Though unseen for 40 years, he believes it exists and relentlessly pursues proof, challenging doubt and time.
For the first time ever, this riveting documentary shows a wonderland in Ilam where rare reptiles are living. The film shows these exotic species trying to survive on the planet for more time