As an activist and popular actor, Motamed-Arya has faced challenges, including bans across Iranian screens on several of her films.
Her many acclaimed roles include ‘Gilaneh’ and ‘Nibat’, the Azerbaijani contender for an Oscar in 2015.
She was also awarded the Montreal Film Festival Best Actress Prize in 2011 and the French Prix Henri-Langlois for Actress and Cinema of the World in 2012.
This year, she was selected for the 75th Venice Film Festival Jury. She has been nominated nine times for Best Actress at the Fajr International Film Festival and won the Crystal Simorgh four times.
This is a part of interview with Motamed-Arya by SBS News.
The IFFA is in its eighth year and showcases the best of Iranian cinema.
Iranian Film Festival Australia Director Armin Miladi told SBS News Iranian cinema has been leading the media.
Motamed-Arya will attend screenings of ‘Tale of the Sea‘ in which she plays the lead role.
It’s one of twelve films showing this year.
“The politics, the geopolitical situation of Iran and all of that which makes Iranian cinema to be in focus.”