Maryam Mohajer on Tuesday 7th May 2019

Maryam Mohajer at London Animation Club, 7th May 2019

During the evening, Maryam described her experiences as a child in Iran and some of the autobiographical elements which inform her work. She started by showing examples of paintings from her background in Fine Art that she produced before moving into Animation, which she studied at Kingston and the RCA. She also mentioned her use of Corel Painter and TVPaint to create textured, even painterly, images, which bely their digital origins.

It has been prolific couple of years for her, having produced Red Dress. No Straps in 2018 and Grandad Was A Romantic earlier this year and currently working on a new film. However, she also mentioned the difficulty in producing new work whilst at the same time being a parent, something which would make an interesting topic at a future London Animation Club event.

Maryam’s Biography and Filmography

Maryam Mohajer was born in Tehran, Iran just before living through revolution, war and immigration. With a background in painting, she discovered animation after moving to UK in year 2000 and got her MA degree in animation from Royal college of art. She lives and works as an animator, writer, director in London.

Filmography and list of festivals:

• Grandad was a romantic. 2019

• Red Dress No Straps, 2018

Special mention the NFS Award for Best Screenplay. Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2018.
Award Winner Lost land international film festival 2018.
Winner of silver medal for best animation Asia South East-Short Film Festival WINTER 2018.
Official selection Edinburgh International Film Festival 2018.
Official selection Athens International Film + Video Festival 2019.
Official Selection Flickerfest International short film Festival 2019.
Official selection Cambridge Film Festival 2018.
Official selection Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2018.
Official selection Underwire Film Festival 2018.
Official selection St.John’s International Women Film Festival 2018. 
Official selection L’Europe autour de l’Europe 2019.
Short-listed for Best Fiction St Neots Film Festival 2018.
Official selection Goa Short Film Festival 2018.
Official selection Kaffny Film Festival 2018.
Official selection The World Festival of Emerging Cinema 2018.
Official selection Lost Land International Film Festival 2018.
Official selection International Motion Festival Cyprus 2019.
Official selection Oxford Film Festival 2019
Official selection Oxford international short Film Festival 2019
Official selection IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival 2019
Official selection Berlin Independent Film Festival 2019
Official selection Pendance Film Festival 2019
Official selection Spello International film festival 2019
Official selection NYC Independent Film Festival 2019
Official selection Paleochora Lost World Short Film Festival 2019
Official selection Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival
Official selection Pune Short Film Festival 2019
Official selection River Film Festival 2019

• And life went on, 2007, Royal College of Art

Winner of best student animation, Animae Caribe, September 2008, Trinidad and Tobago.
Winner of best animation, A Corto di donne, June 2008 Pozzuoli, Italy.

Official selection Edinburgh International Film Festival June 2008, Edinburgh.
Official selection Melbourne International Film Festival August 2008, Melbourne.
Official selection Stuttgart International Animation Festival May 2008, Stuttgart.
Official selection Sicaf May 2008, Seoul.
Official selection Anifest, May 2008, Trebon.
Official selection Créteil International film festival March 2008, Créteil.
DOK Leipzig, November 2007, Leipzig.
Official selection Middle East International Film Festival October 2007, Abu Dhabi.
Official selection Balkanima October 2007, Belgrade.
Official selection London International Animation Festival August 2007, London.

• The Girl with Short Hair, 2006, Royal College of Art

Winner of 3-month scholarship/Artist-in-Residence at quartier21/MQ award, Tricky Women, March 2007 Vienna, Austria.

Maryam and Vivien Halas