Iranian screenwriter and filmmaker Pouya Aghelizadeh, a member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), has been selected as a jury member for the upcoming DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in South Korea.
Held annually in the Gyeonggi Province, near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival is renowned as one of the most significant documentary film events in Asia. The 17th edition, scheduled to run from September 11 to 17, 2025, will focus on the core theme of “Peace, Coexistence, and Reconciliation.”
In addition to his jury duties, Pouya will also be present at the Busan International Film Festival as a film critic. Notably, he held the same position at the festival in 2022.
Beyond his critical work, Aghelizadeh is currently developing a feature film screenplay titled “Gorizan” (run away) and a TV series project titled “The Tenth Symphony.”
His previous works have garnered widespread acclaim, including Best Film, Best Experimental Film, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Student Film awards across various festivals in the United States and Europe. Notably, his film “Light Room” received an Honorable Mention at the American Independent Film Festival.
Pouya Aghelizadeh, an Iranian film critic, screenwriter, and editor, holds a master’s degree in Dramatic Literature. He is a member of FIPRESCI, an international organization that promotes cinema, alongside five other Iranian members. In Iran, Aghelizadeh has been an active movie session holder, particularly in movie analysis sessions called SurrealSundayS, and has served as a festival director for over a decade.
Aghelizadeh has collaborated with renowned filmmakers like Mohammadreza Aslani (the Chess of the Wind) in theoretical cinema fields. He has also led emerging experimental filmmakers in Iran by organizing the Iranian Contemporary Experimental Festival and the “Cinema & Culture” program. Additionally, he serves as a cinema teacher and conducts workshops on “Theory of Acting in Cinema” and “Art of Editing” globally.
Aghelizadeh’s movie analysis articles delve into modern cinema and explore Lacan’s theory of “Gaze” in cinema. He has written about prominent filmmakers such as Bergman, Buñuel, Antonioni, Tarkovsky, and Andrei Zvyagintsev. Furthermore, he has been a prominent critic at international film festivals like Busan International Film Festival, Berlinale, and Helsinki.
Additionally, Aghelizadeh has consulted on numerous documentary films that shed light on significant figures in Iranian history and has also contributed to English documentaries.
