Nafiseh Riyahi, The First Iranian Female Animator  
 

 Nafiseh Riyahi


Born in 1943 in Stockholm, Sweden, She studied various disciplines of plastic arts in the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland and set up individual as well as group exhibitions in several countries.
A majority of her animated films were productions of public sector, such as former Culture and Arts Ministry (2 films, 1966-68), I.I.D.C.Y.A (6 films, 1970-77), UNHCR (1 film, 1975). She also was an animator to the animated feature "Lucky Luck" (1969-70).
Her films were widely screened at many international children films and book's festival. Her films and illustrations won 5 national and international awards. She taught at the Dramatic Arts School in Tehran for two years (1966-67).
She set up painting exhibitions four times in Tehran and Geneva (1987-1999), while she took part in group exhibitions across Iran and France. Her last exhibition was held in the UN headquarter in Geneva.
In 1991, she joined the French Elementary School in Tehran to teach painting and French language where she kept on teaching up to the end of her life. She sat on the jury at the first Tehran International Animation Festival in 1999.
Her life came to an end in 2000.
All the films bellow have been produced by the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults.

 
 
 
How Much Do I know?

A schoolboy dreams of understanding the mystery behind the world of numbers which he tries to relate to the real world. Class should learn to count but the real world poses questions of a different nature to him.

35mm / 6'30'' / 1972

   
Rainbow

A story with symbolism, draws on the struggle between good and evil. Rainbow as a symbol of brightness tries to fight against the surrounding darkness, but gives up soon, never the less, the others resume the struggle.

35mm / 5'43'' / 1973

   
Old Tehran to Modern Tehran

A fiction documentary that illustrates how the old Tehran changed into a Modern Tehran.

35mm / 30' / 1987

   
Violet Pencil

The story of a child who creates a unique world for himself through drawing. This makes fact and fiction merge together.

35mm / 12'40'' / 1915

   
What is the Differnce?

An educational film that illustrates the right way of dealing with objects and their applications.

35mm / 10' / 1992