Parisa Zandbaf was born and raised in the vibrant city of Tehran, Iran. Her parents introduced her to classical music, performance, and Iranian cinema, sparking her passion for arts and filmmaking. Surrounded by artists, she absorbed the magic of visual narratives, setting the stage for her remarkable journey.

Parisa’s journey in the entertainment industry began with local theater productions. However, her thirst for knowledge led her on a captivating odyssey across multiple European countries. With a BA from the University of Tehran (acceptance rate 10%), she moved to Europe to pursue a tripartite MA in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, fully funded by the EU (acceptance rate 3%). Parisa’s pursuit of excellence led her to her PhD studies in film aesthetics, where she explores the intersection of art and philosophy.

In London, Parisa embarked on her second fully funded MA in Filmmaking (acceptance rate 1.9%). Her films—ranging from fiction to documentary and experimental—reflect her global journey and academic insights. Parisa’s influence extends beyond the screen. Her expertise is recognized in the film community, having served as a jury member at the Amsterdam Independent Film Festival (2021) and the Changing Face International Film Festival (Sydney, Australia 2022), and as a judge on the art history and theory panel for the Global Undergraduate Awards, The Junior Noble Prize (Dublin, Ireland 2023).

The Dutch-Persian Ph.D. candidate and film director firmly believes that storytelling transcends borders, connecting people on a profound level. She aims to continue pushing boundaries and provoking thought through her academic and artistic work.

“Imagining Resistance via Aesthetics of Relationality.” Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the NSAE: Resistance, Art and Aesthetics, Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden, June 8-10, 2022.

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