Salar Zarza

Salar Zarza is a Kurdish-Iranian actor, writer, director, producer and an accomplished martial artist, raised and based in the Netherlands who has appeared in Caged, in addition to other films. Zarza also starred in several television series, TV shows and commercials. He has a background in multiple martial arts disciplines. From age 14, after already several years of extensive training in Judo, Karate Tae Kwon Do and kickboxing styles Zarza continued trained under his father's close family friend Iraj, who was a famous fighter pilot from the Persian army who later became bodyguard of the last Persian King. Zarza had begun combining martial arts techniques to perform his impressive athletic kicking skills as well as maintaining a muscular fighter type physique for high demanding action roles and stunts in motion pictures. Zarza is primarily focused on his craft as an actor and an award winning filmmaker.

In 2008, Salar signed up to work on the new British action film "Ten Dead Men" as an actor with UK based production company Modern Life. In 2010 Salar played a role in the anticipated feature film "Caged" from director Stephan Brennninkmeijer, a dutch thriller, set to be released in dutch theaters late 2011 before getting released on DVD and Blu-ray in several countries and on Video on Demand.

In 2012, Salar begun an independent production company and created the subdivision 'True Spirit Productions' dedicated to smaller corporate jobs where Zarza directed a variety of music videos and corporate films. Under the label 'True Spirit Entertainment', solely focused on writing and producing, the production & post-production of independent motion picture films Zarza is most active with a prime focus on the drama, action and thriller genres. It didn't take long before 'True Spirit Entertainment', with a focus on international films for US, Europe, Australia and foreign markets, Zarza got involved in it's first high production values international action/thriller feature, largely set across the Benelux countries and partly in Amman, Jordan in addition to working on worldwide feature film productions for a variety of his well known clients including many from Hollywood.

In July 2012, Mr. Zarza shot the action feature "Vigilance" for TCF film, working in the camera department as the film's RED steady-cam operator. Salar had turned down a part in the film due to scheduling conflicts because he already was signed to another feature film production which was set in Amman, Jordan for an American-Jordanian film director. One day after completing the principle photography of the action feature film set in Amsterdam, Zarza flew to Amman, Jordan to start filming on his next feature film production. Consequently in August 2012, Salar worked closely with filmmaker, director, writer & music composer Dr. Mohydeen Quandour on their first collaboration, an anticipated romantic comedy feature film, entitled "A Facebook Romance,". Zarza was hired as the cameraman and steady-cam operator filming on RED MX digital cinema camera. The adventurous feature film production was shot in 19 days across different Jordanian sets, primarily set around the beautiful backdrop of Amman. Zarza was also cast in the principle character role of rich Jordanian businessman Waleed Rami and co-starred with the famous Lebanese star and catwalk model Lamitta Frangieh in addition to Mohamed Karim, "The Voice" presenter in Egypt who co-starred with Nicolas Cage in "A Score to Settle" and Bruce Willis in "A Day to Die". In December 2012, "A Facebook Romance" premiered in the 10th Monaco International Film Festival, one of the premiere European film award festivals, as a nominee for an Angel Award. Salar was awarded with an honorable Angel Film Award, in the category 'Best Cast Ensamble' in Monaco for "A Facebook Romance". In addition, the romantic comedy feature film "A Facebook Romance" won 6 awards.

In March 2014, Zarza met with Mohammed (imdb name Michel) Qissi, better known as the legendary Thai fighter and main antagonist "Tong Po" from "Kickboxer", "Blood Sport" & "Lionheart" (all starring Jean-Claude van Damme), opposing JCVD. After their meeting, Salar was cast as "Jaafar", the fierce right hand of main character Bara (played by Mohammed Qissi) in "BARA" a.k.a. An Eye for an Eye. A six week shoot for the epic action adventure feature film, shot in the sands of the Sahara in Morocco, "BARA" is a large scope feature film production. It was screened theatrically in major Moroccan cities and extremely well received by audiences. Zarza is working with Mr. Qissi on multiple other international action films, including with Jean-Claude van Damme.

In 2018, Zarza was the cinematographer on feature film "Islamophobia", starring several Hollywood stars including but not limited to Hollywood actor Chris Mulky from "Rambo: First Blood" starring as Levi. Salar played one of the lead roles in that feature as Ali, an undercover CIA agent. The film premiered in the Cannes Film Festical.

In 2019, Zarza started working on international action/thriller feature film "Out for Vengeance". Salar Zarza wrote the amazing screenplay years ago, in addition to several unpublished books and another screenplay, of which the latter was sought after by a well known Hollywood studio who were in talks with Salar Zarza. Mr. Zarza is the executive producer, writer, and director, as well as playing the lead character, Alan Barnas, a Special Forces sergeant who comes back to town and quickly finds himself targeted by three rivaling drug cartels spread across the Benelux, including the Netherlands, after he helps a woman from some gang members. He then becomes the prime suspect in a murder case investigated by the police and Interpol. "Out for Vengeance" tells a fast paced revenge story, which revolves around honor and protecting family. Developed as an large scope international action packed feature, Salar Zarza stars alongside many Hollywood star names cast in strong supporting roles, in which Ron Smoorenburg co-stars as Coach Gabriel, (Alan's former trainer) in addition to Hollywood stars Costas Mandylor, Silvio Simac, Richard Burgi, Christopher Atkins, Barbara Nedeljakova, Rupert Wynne-James. On top of Dutch celebrities model/actress Kim Feenstra, Fajah Laurens, the 4 times Olympic gold winner Inge de Bruijn and in the female lead role Dorien Rose Duinker playing Vanessa Smith (Playmate/Angelina Jolie stand-in). Michael Dudikoff, star of the "American Ninja" Hollywood action movies from Cannon Films, co-directed some scenes alongside Zarza in Amsterdam on "Out for Vengeance". The international action/thriller project features a strong cast with over 40 from different countries worldwide mostly from the US, UK & Australia. A strong, diverse cast with most having their own respective fan bases and many are known from Hollywood independent and large studio motion pictures, in addition to box-office studio films with some co-starring alongside various A-list Hollywood stars. This exciting, faced paced motion picture & alongside an entire first season TV show production, has wrapped in Amsterdam, September 2023 and is momentarily undergoing final steps of the comprehensive post-production. "Out for Vengeance" will premiere later this year 2024 at Pathe Tuschinski Amsterdam, followed up with a large worldwide release later in the year.

Action/thriller "Out for Vengeance" is also the first feature film & TV show production in Dutch history in which more than five different Hollywood actors are attached together in one film project on top of multiple famous Dutch stars and celebrities showcasing surprising roles in the much anticipated action thriller.