Empty View by Ali Zare Ghanatnowi

Mother keeps a look out for her son to return home from war. She knits him a pair of gloves remembering how her son rubbed his cold hands together on the wintry morning he left. The war goes on. Mother waits. She unravels the gloves and knits them over and over again. When their small home is bombed, the gloves burn into ashes. Mother sits atop the rubble, plucks her white hair one by one and knits the gloves with her hair. Finally spring arrives and the war ends. Mother hears the sound of military boots nearing. She gathers all the strength left in her and walks down the stairs with anticipation.

Director Biography -Ali Zare GhanatNowi

Ali Zare GhanatNowi, is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, photographer, translator, author, teacher, graphic designer, cameraman and producer. For the past two decades Ali, has been involved in making over twenty films, including animations, documentaries and short movies. He attained critical acclaim for directing Red Mind (2009) and Dad’s Fragile Doll (2013) which was awarded Best Animation at the International Open Film Festival (IOFF) and Best Animation at the Veterans Film Festival and Londan-X4. Ali’s films The Lights, and Sistan Itinerary, became nominees in CINEMA VERITE International Documentary Film Festival. His recent works, The Internationale, Essence and Empty View, are in animation format.
Ali’s first experience with film and media started at Iran’s National Broadcasting Company, in the state of Fars, where he worked as an editor, writer, and production assistant, when he was only sixteen. He not only continued working in the TV broadcasting field, but produced several shows for school and won his High School the country wide prestigious award for the Best School Show in 1997. Before starting his film studies at University of Tehran and continue on to Cinema School, Ali had already accumulated substantial experience in the field which helped further his university studies.
In directorial and cameraman capacity, Ali worked on a number of TV commercials and advertising campaigns from 2006 to 2016. In 2004 he founded, Cinema School, in Shiraz where he taught numerous workshops such as Principles of Pacing and Timing, Directing, Screenplay Writing, Film Theory and Criticism. He employed and invited prominent scholars like Saeed Aghighi, Farzad Motamen, Mohamadreza Aslani, Mahmoud Kalari, Mehri Shirazi, and Homayoon Asa’dian to teach various classes at his school.

FILMOGRAPHY
• 2017- Empty View, “Chashmandaze Khali”; Animation (Producer, Writer, Editor Director)
• In Progress- Pour with the Rain, “Ba Baran Bebar”; Documentary (Cameraman, Writer, Producer, Director)
• 2017- The Internationale, “Beynolmelali”; Animation (Director, Producer, Writer)
• In Progress- The Kiss, “Booseh”; Animation (Producer, Writer, Director)
• 2016- Zand Street, “Khiabane Zand”; Documentary (Producer, Writer, Director, Cameraman)
• 2015- Coming Week, “Hafteye Ayandeh”; Documentary (Writer, Producer)
• 2015- Jump In Love, “Paresh Dar Eshq”; Experimental Movie (Producer, Editor)
• 2015- Timology, “Timology”; Experimental Movie (Editor, Producer)
• 2015- Umbilical Cord, “Bande Naaf”; Experimental Movie (Writer, Director, Producer)
• 2014- My Town is the village, “Shahre man, Aabaadi”; TV film (Editor)
• 2014- The Lives Of Others, “Zendegie Digaraan”; Animation (Writer, Producer)
• 2013- Dad’s Fragile Doll, “Aroosake Chiniye Baba”; Animation (Writer, Director, editor, Producer)
• 2012- The Lights, “Cheraghha”; Documentary (Writer, Director, Producer)
• 2011- Sistan Itinerary, “Safarnameh Sistan”; Documantary (Producer, Director, Writer)
• 2010- Cries and Whispers, “Faryadha o Najvaha”; Documentary (Writer, Director, Producer)
• 2009- Red Mind, “Aghle Sorkh”; Experimental Documentary (Producer, Director, Writer)
• 2008- Four Deaths of a Writer, “Chahar Marge Yek Nevisandeh”; Documentary (Writer, Director)
• 2006- Makoo, “Makoo”; Video Art (Writer, Director)
• 2004- MIT, “MIT”; Documentary (Writer, Director)
• 2003- Oasis, “Vahe”; Short Film (Editor)
• 2001- Winners Win Nothing, “Barandegan Chizi Nemibarand”; Short Film (Writer, Director)
• 2001- World View, “Jahan Nama”; Documentary (Editor)
• 2000- Gallant Heroes in Victory, “Mosabegheh Delavar Mardane Fat’h”; TV match (Editor, Assistant Director)
• 2000- Grey Autumn, “Paeeze Khakestari”; Short Film (Writer, Director)
• 2000- HandiCrafts in Fars Province, “Sanaye’e Dastiye Fars”; Documentary (Director)
• 1999- Iran the Year Zero, “Iran, Saale Sefr”; Radio Play (Writer)
• 1999- Viewpoint, “Didgah”; TV Show (Editor, Assistant Director, Writer)