Mandana Biscotti
- Director
- Producer
- Legal
Mandana Biscotti is an Iranian-American Director, Producer and Attorney who is best known for her critically acclaimed Academy Award- shortlisted feature documentary, The Voice of Dust and Ash. The film offers an artistic exploration of the life and legacy of legendary Iranian classical artist and humanitarian Maestro Mohammad Reza Shajarian through the prism of the Unofficial Iranian National Anthem for Freedom, "Morghe Sahar". It was her directorial debut.
From Rotten Tomatoes review, "While Shajarian's story is familiar to most Iranians, it is told here with great passion and intensity through the deft interweaving of interviews, historical news footage, dreamy animation sequences, and Shajarian's magnificent singing. Resonance with the current protests is eerie, simultaneously enraging and inspiring. For non-Iranians around the globe watching the resistance unfold (yet again, the film cogently provides a big picture view of the complex history of the struggle while tracing Shajarian's ingenious and courageous achievements as one of Iran's most renowned artists. Scenes of delicate beauty, intelligence, and warmth collide with those of brutality and claustrophobic repression. Shajarian's extensive commentary eloquently ranges over philosophical, historical, political, and artistic angles with compassion and humor. As the current unprecedented extension of the struggle unfolds, this inspiring film reflects our convictions that the light of the human spirit-beauty, kindness, courage, justice-eventually prevails over chilling darkness. A timely and engaging portrait that appeals to fans and speaks across cultures to anyone interested in the power of art and the individual."
On December 21st the film was shortlisted for the Academy Awards (Best Song) and it received two nominations for Hollywood Music in Media Awards for Best Music Documentary and Best Original Song.
From Rotten Tomatoes review, "While Shajarian's story is familiar to most Iranians, it is told here with great passion and intensity through the deft interweaving of interviews, historical news footage, dreamy animation sequences, and Shajarian's magnificent singing. Resonance with the current protests is eerie, simultaneously enraging and inspiring. For non-Iranians around the globe watching the resistance unfold (yet again, the film cogently provides a big picture view of the complex history of the struggle while tracing Shajarian's ingenious and courageous achievements as one of Iran's most renowned artists. Scenes of delicate beauty, intelligence, and warmth collide with those of brutality and claustrophobic repression. Shajarian's extensive commentary eloquently ranges over philosophical, historical, political, and artistic angles with compassion and humor. As the current unprecedented extension of the struggle unfolds, this inspiring film reflects our convictions that the light of the human spirit-beauty, kindness, courage, justice-eventually prevails over chilling darkness. A timely and engaging portrait that appeals to fans and speaks across cultures to anyone interested in the power of art and the individual."
On December 21st the film was shortlisted for the Academy Awards (Best Song) and it received two nominations for Hollywood Music in Media Awards for Best Music Documentary and Best Original Song.