Iranian Director Saeed Roustayi will preside the festival jury of the 2023 edition

For the first edition of the Biarritz International Film Festival - NOUVELLES VAGUES, we are honored to welcome Saeed Roustaee as president of the jury who, at barely 33 years old, has been able to offer an innovative, brilliant look at contemporary Iranian society.

Saeed Roustaee
Iranian director, screenwriter et producer

Critically-acclaimed director, screenwriter and producer Saeed Roustaee was born in Tehran, Iran in 1989. After studying Cinema in high school and Cinematography at Soore University, he began his career by directing three short films and a documentary, which won over 100 awards worldwide. His feature debut, LIFE AND A DAY (2016), won Best Directing and Best Screenplay Awards at the 2016 Fajr International Film Festival, Iran’s premier film festival, and several prizes at many other international festivals. His second feature, JUST 6.5 (2019), a social thriller about the fight against drugs, premiered at the 2019 Venice Orizzonti and won the award for Best Director at the 2019 Tokyo International Film Festival. This movie was a hit with both critics and audiences in Iran and across the world, having also been nominated for a César Award for Best Foreign Film. His latest film, LEILA'S BROTHERS (2022), which gives an insight into Iranian society through a complex family saga, was selected for the 2022 Cannes Film Festival Competition section, where it won the Citizen’s Award and the Prix FIPRESCI.

Filmography
Leila's Brothers(2022)
Just 6.5 (2019)
Life and a day (2016)

Shorts :
Saturday (2011)
Ceremony (2012)
Empty street (2014)