For many years, Mohsen Makhmalbaf has made controversial films both within and outside Iran protesting against social oppression. He was forced to leave Iran in 2004 due to the extreme pressure of censorship and has since been the spokesperson for the Green Movement, a peaceful social movement protesting the outcomes of the 2009 Iranian election. Mohsen has transformed his life through art and in doing so, has become a beacon for the thousands of musicians, filmmakers, actors and writers in Iran who are pushing for social justice and human rights. When he was young, Mohsen modeled himself on Che Guevara. When he was a teen, he was jailed after he was shot during a scuffle with a policeman. It was whilst in jail that he realised the root of the problems for Iranian people could be solved through its rich culture. Inspired, he picked up a camera after his release and after 18 feature films, and six short filmss, he has shone a spotlight on social justice, women's rights, children's rights and human rights, not only in Iran, but across the region.
