Mani Haghighi

Born into the cradle of Iranian cinematic royalty as the grandson of the legendary Ebrahim Golestan, Mani Haghighi possesses a vision defined by the friction between intellectual rigor and surrealist play. His background in philosophy infuses his work with a labyrinthine sensibility, where the mundane architecture of daily life in Tehran frequently collapses into metaphysical mystery. Whether he is dissecting the nature of masculinity or deconstructing the history of his own lineage, Haghighi operates as an architect of ambiguity, crafting narratives that function as both scathing social critiques and existential puzzles. His filmography is a masterclass in tonal shifting, marked by notable works such as the ghostly, genre-bending Pig and the sprawling, hypnotic mystery of A Dragon Arrives! which premiered to acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival. A frequent presence on the global circuit, Haghighi has cultivated a distinct aesthetic that balances sharp wit with a melancholic, dreamlike atmosphere. By consistently challenging the boundaries of the Iranian New Wave, he remains a vital, provocative voice in contemporary world cinema, endlessly interrogating the truth beneath the surface of the visible world.