Focus Visually On Iran

President Mir Qanbar is a 2005 Iranian documentary film directed by Mohammad Shirvani. The film follows Mir Qanbar, an elderly Iranian man, as he campaigns in the country's presidential election.

The film won the Award of Excellence at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival in 2005.

Mir Qanbar is now a 74-year-old retiree who has dedicated himself to winning an elected position in his country's government, be it the presidency or merely a seat in Parliament. He comes across not as a Don Quixote, tilting at windmills, but instead as a quiet, determined man who has given considerable thought to the policies he would introduce, and works extremely hard to reach his unattainable goal. Beautifully filmed, director Mohammad Shirvani takes a stylized film approach, showing the off-beat, sometimes pathetic presidential campaign of an old man who is making his last stab for political power.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:

Mohammad Shirvani started making short films and documentaries in 1991. Known for his unique style and sense of humor, Mohammad Shirvani represents a new generation of Iranian filmmakers who take an avant-garde approach to storytelling, utilizing low-cost digital technology to their advantage, thereby avoiding most censors' scrutiny. His films include President Mir Qanbar (2005), Nahf (2004), and The Candidate (2001).