Born in 1958, Mohammadali Talebi (محمدعلی طالبی) graduated in cinema and TV from the College of Dramatic Arts. After graduation, he began collaborating with I.R.I.B. television where he made many educational programs for children and young adults. His directorial debut was a box-office hit, CITY OF THE MICE, co-directed with Marziyeh Boroumand. Mohammadali Talebi’s international breakthrough came with THE BOOT, winner of Golden Gate Award at the 37th San Francisco Film Festival in 1994. His TICK TACK won special jury prize in Chicago Children’s Film Festival. Then he entered a co-production with the Japanese company , Digital Media Lab and made BAG OF RICE. His next film, THE WILLOW, AND THE WIND, was a co-production with NHK (Japan). Until 2011, his films were screened and awarded in different film festivals including Rennes, Frankfurt, Hyderabad, Bangkok, Olympia, Zlin, Mar del Plata, Munich, etc. His WIND AND FOG was an award-winning entry in Berlinale’s Generation section and was released in Germany in 2011. In 2014, BFI chose three of Mohammadali Talebi’s films as a part of the touring film season of CINEMA OF CHILDHOOD.
