MARYAM KESHAVARZ is an Iranian-American writer/ director.

Maryam’s first narrative feature fiction film, CIRCUMSTANCE premiered to overwhelming critical acclaim at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, garnering the coveted Sundance Audience Award, leading to Maryam’s inclusion in Deadline.com’s 2011 Director’s to Watch. CIRCUMSTANCE has won over a dozen international awards including Best First Film at the Rome Film Festival and the Audience & Best Actress Awards at Outfest.

The Independent Spirit Award nominated film was described by the New York Times as “Swirling and sensuous,” by the Wall Street Journal as “Supremely cinematic,” and by the Hollywood Reporter as “Amazingly accomplished.” The film was released in the US by Participant Media and went on to be released theatrically in over a dozen countries in 2012.

Maryam’s sophomore feature VIPER CLUB starring Academy Award Winner Susan Sarandon and Golden Globe Winner Matt Bomer had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival 2018 as a Special Presentation. Viper Club was released theatrically in the United States by Roadside Attractions.

THE PERSIAN VERSION, a semi-autobiographical epic dramedy of migration, family, and the secrets we keep, traverses decades and toggles between the United States and Iran, is Maryam’s third feature. THE PERSIAN VERSION premiered in Main Competition at the Sundance Film Festival 2023, where it won the U.S. Dramatic Competition Audience Award and The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. The film was released stateside by Sony Picture Classics this fall to critical acclaim. Characterized by The Hollywood Report as “infectious, fizzy energy that is hard resist,” the Huffington post termed it a “soulful journey across time and language,” and Roger Ebert proclaimed “a story telling style few director’s would dare, a dazzling thing to witness.” Maryam was honored as The Wrap’s: 25 Change Makers in Hollywood, spoke on Variety’s For Your Consideration Fest: Screenplay Panel, and THE PERSIAN VERSION was named by the National Board of Review as Top Ten Films of 2023.

Keshavarz is the first director in Sundance history to win the Audience Award twice.