Mandana FarmanFarmaian
- Producer
Mandana Farmanfarmaian was born in Iran and is a descendant of the Royal Ghadjar dynasty (1700-1921). She is the granddaughter of HRH Prince Abdul-Hossein Farmanfarma, who was deposed by the Shah in 1921. She is also the cousin of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh, the leader of the popular movement of Iran. Dr. Mossadegh is best known as the statesman who nationalized the Iranian oil industry and was the country's prime minister until 1953. Like her family, who are well known for their role in politics, education and the welfare system in Iran, Europe and the united States Ms. Farmanfarmaian is sensitive to both geopolitical and cultural issues.
A passionate photographer and studier of cultures Ms. Farmanfarmaian has traveled extensively to 37 countries throughout North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In both 2001 and 2003 she visited Iran, intrigued to learn of the country's changes since her exile at age 10. Backpacking alone for five months she explored over 60 cities and villages and visited with the Ghashghai and Backtiari nomad tribes. The resulting book Welcome to Your Country, part biography and part travelogue, is being edited for publication.
She has a deep love and passion for films of all genres and generations. Having fallen in love at a young age with the idea of James Bond, she has become very knowledgeable with Ian Fleming's personal history as well as his books, Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and all James Bond films. Her passion for producing films started at a young age though she did not pursue film until recently.
Brought up with a strong grounding in civic responsibility Ms. Farmanfarmaian is an avid philanthropist and joins her family in promoting and supporting health-care and educational endeavors. Over the past years she has chaired the annual auctions and coordinated broad fundraising at numerous schools in the Los Angeles area. In 2011 she chaired the 70th anniversary annual auction fundraiser for the legendary Sunshine pre-school in Los Angeles. Together with her husband Dr. Amir Hedayati a former concert pianist and Olympic Medalist, they put on charity fundraising concerts for different causes which latest was for her favorite educational fundraising charity, Determined to Succeed, a children's educational fund for inner city kids. Farhang foundation a fundraiser for the "Cyrus Cylinder" - the basic laws of human rights written over 2500 years ago, also was the basis of the United States Constitution as is written on the walls of the United Nations building in New York city.
She also continuously supports a number of other charities including Monaco's Red Cross Ball, Bal De L'Ete, and Bal des Etoiles in Paris of which she is an honorary International committee member and works closely with Princess Catherine. Both Galas are fundraisers for Princess Grace's children's charity and the Order of Malta. The first was chaired by the former Prince Rainier and presently Prince Albert in Monte Carlo, Monaco in August; the Bal de L'Ete is chaired by Princess Catherine in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June.
Ms. Farmanfarmaian supports the Nancy Davis's Race to Erase MS foundation. For the International Red Cross, she aided in the 2003 effort for the aftermath of the Bam earthquake in Iran for which she was nominated "Woman Of The Year". Ms. Farmanfarmaian has also been a committee member for UNICEF International and on the West Coast. For the Aids Foundation as well as the Breast Cancer research, she has done numerous fundraisings in San Francisco and New York, including the creation of her own lipstick colors, the proceeds of which went to the charities. Other charity events in which she has participated range from the Crystal Ball in New York and Palm Beach, to San Francisco's well known Ambassador's Ball, The Film Festival, and the Farhang foundation in Los Angeles.
Her passion for photography and hobby in exploring Photoshop program has led her to being an expert in graphic design. She has created numerous professional 200 pages yearbooks for her children's school. She is the author of "Anahita and Ariana at the Aquarium in Monaco". The books "Anahita and Ariana" are a series of educational travel books for children.
Ms. Farmanfarmaian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco. She is Fluent in English, French, Persian and Spanish conversational.
A passionate photographer and studier of cultures Ms. Farmanfarmaian has traveled extensively to 37 countries throughout North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In both 2001 and 2003 she visited Iran, intrigued to learn of the country's changes since her exile at age 10. Backpacking alone for five months she explored over 60 cities and villages and visited with the Ghashghai and Backtiari nomad tribes. The resulting book Welcome to Your Country, part biography and part travelogue, is being edited for publication.
She has a deep love and passion for films of all genres and generations. Having fallen in love at a young age with the idea of James Bond, she has become very knowledgeable with Ian Fleming's personal history as well as his books, Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and all James Bond films. Her passion for producing films started at a young age though she did not pursue film until recently.
Brought up with a strong grounding in civic responsibility Ms. Farmanfarmaian is an avid philanthropist and joins her family in promoting and supporting health-care and educational endeavors. Over the past years she has chaired the annual auctions and coordinated broad fundraising at numerous schools in the Los Angeles area. In 2011 she chaired the 70th anniversary annual auction fundraiser for the legendary Sunshine pre-school in Los Angeles. Together with her husband Dr. Amir Hedayati a former concert pianist and Olympic Medalist, they put on charity fundraising concerts for different causes which latest was for her favorite educational fundraising charity, Determined to Succeed, a children's educational fund for inner city kids. Farhang foundation a fundraiser for the "Cyrus Cylinder" - the basic laws of human rights written over 2500 years ago, also was the basis of the United States Constitution as is written on the walls of the United Nations building in New York city.
She also continuously supports a number of other charities including Monaco's Red Cross Ball, Bal De L'Ete, and Bal des Etoiles in Paris of which she is an honorary International committee member and works closely with Princess Catherine. Both Galas are fundraisers for Princess Grace's children's charity and the Order of Malta. The first was chaired by the former Prince Rainier and presently Prince Albert in Monte Carlo, Monaco in August; the Bal de L'Ete is chaired by Princess Catherine in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June.
Ms. Farmanfarmaian supports the Nancy Davis's Race to Erase MS foundation. For the International Red Cross, she aided in the 2003 effort for the aftermath of the Bam earthquake in Iran for which she was nominated "Woman Of The Year". Ms. Farmanfarmaian has also been a committee member for UNICEF International and on the West Coast. For the Aids Foundation as well as the Breast Cancer research, she has done numerous fundraisings in San Francisco and New York, including the creation of her own lipstick colors, the proceeds of which went to the charities. Other charity events in which she has participated range from the Crystal Ball in New York and Palm Beach, to San Francisco's well known Ambassador's Ball, The Film Festival, and the Farhang foundation in Los Angeles.
Her passion for photography and hobby in exploring Photoshop program has led her to being an expert in graphic design. She has created numerous professional 200 pages yearbooks for her children's school. She is the author of "Anahita and Ariana at the Aquarium in Monaco". The books "Anahita and Ariana" are a series of educational travel books for children.
Ms. Farmanfarmaian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco. She is Fluent in English, French, Persian and Spanish conversational.