About The Director

Alireza Khatami is a Canadian writer, director, and producer. Born into the Indigenous Khamse tribe in southeast Iran, he draws from the oral storytelling traditions of his heritage to craft films that blend magic realism with incisive social commentary. His work explores the invisible structures of power, memory, and identity through bold and unconventional cinematic language. His debut feature, Oblivion Verses, premiered at the Venice Film Festival, winning the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay and the FIPRESCI Prize. His second feature, Terrestrial Verses (codirected with Ali Asgari), premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard and has been released in over 15 countries. His latest film, The Things You Kill, premiered at Sundance 2025, where it received widespread acclaim from both juries and critics, winning the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award. Described as “brilliant” by Variety, “feverish” by IndieWire, and “a case study in how to make an effective psychological thriller” by Vulture, the film confirms Khatami’s place as a vital voice in Canadian and international cinema.