Born in 1959 in Tehran, Alireza Ghanie moved to Austria when he
was 14 years old. He received his masters degree in 1982 from the
University of Music and Dramatic Art, "Mozarteum" in Salzburg. He
graduated in Computer Science in 1994. He worked extensively in
theatre and opera and also as a freelance filmmaker, painter and
photographer. Ghanie made a number of short films and wrote
several screenplays. His debut feature film WINDSPIEL / The Wind
Game, with the great Austrian Poet and Writer H. C. Artmann in the
leading role (also screened at the Fajr Film Festival in 2002) has
participated in a number of international film festivals and was
awarded for the best Film and best Director. He received the
"Europa Tolerance" award, sponsored by the European
Parliament, for his film, "Hand in Hand" in 1994. His Documentary
"Lesson from Bam" (also screend at Cinema Ambiente Film Festival Turin) won many awards including the Grand Prix
Award from Chicago Int. Documentary Film Festival. He lives and
works as a freelance filmmaker, artist and Media lecturer in
Salzburg, Austria.
