# Omid Shams

Omid Shams (Persian: امید شمس; born April 26, 1990) is an Iranian director, screenwriter, and producer who was born in Karaj, Iran. He is a graduate of cinema from the Iranian Youth Cinema Society (Karaj's branch) and the National Cinema School of Iran. His first featured film is called Conjugal Visit (2022) starring two well-known Iranian actors Parinaz Izadyar and Hootan Shakiba. Before Conjugal Visit, Shams wrote and directed three short films: The Passer (2016), Birthday Night (2017), and Dilemma (2018). His short films won several awards in numerous international and national film festivals. Conjugal Visit premiered at the 40th Fajr Film Festival and it was welcomed by many audiences and received critical acclaim. Conjugal Visit is the best-selling social film in the history of Iranian cinema. Shams was also a director advisor in several films such as Skin (2020) which is a feature film directed by Ark Brothers.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Director | Screenwriter | Notes |
| 2016 | The Passer | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2017 | Birthday Night | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2018 | Dilemma | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2022 | Conjugal Visit | Yes | Yes | Feature Film |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Category | Award | Nominated Work | Result |
| 2016 | Best Film with the "Faith and Hope" Theme | Tehran International Short Film Festival | The Passer | Won |
| 2017 | Best Short Film | Third Eye Asian Film Festival | Birthday Night | Won |
| 2017 | Best Screenplay | Tehran International Short Film Festival | Birthday Night | Won |
| 2017 | Best Short Film from "Art and Experience Cinema" Perspective | Tehran International Short Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2017 | Best Short Film | Miami Short Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2018 | Best Fiction | Linz International Short Film Festival | Birthday Night | Won |
| 2018 | Best Short Film | Persian Internation Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2018 | Canvas Award - Best Film (Short Film Competition) | MOOOV Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2018 | Best Narrative Short | Macon Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2018 | Best Narrative Short (International Competition) | Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2018 | Best Short Film | Short of the Year | Birthday Night | Won |
| 2018 | Best Short | Short Sweet Film Fest | Birthday Night | Won |
| 2018 | Best Live Action (New Talents Competition) | PÖFF Shorts | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2018 | Best Short Film (International Competition) | Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2019 | Best Short Film | Big Water Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2019 | Best Narrative Short | Milestone Worldwide Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2019 | Short Drama | Twin Rivers Media Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2019 | Narrative Shorts (Grand Jury Prize) | Utah Arts Festival (Fear No Film) | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2019 | Live Action Narrative Short Film (Grand Jury Award) | Story Image Fest | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2019 | Live Action Narrative Short Film (Audience Award) | Story Image Fest | Birthday Night | Won |
| 2019 | Best Short Film (Golden Award) | Queen Palm International Film Festival | Birthday Night | Won |
| 2019 | Best Narrative Short | Rhode Island International Film Festival | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2019 | Best of the Festival | Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films | Birthday Night | Nominated |
| 2022 | Crystal Simorgh for Best First Film (Main Competition) | 40th Fajr Film Festival | Conjugal Visit | Nominated |
| 2022 | Best direction | Persian Critics Association | Conjugal Visit | Won |
| 2022 | Best direction | Persian Critics Association | Conjugal Visit | Won |
| 2022 | Best Script | Urban International Film Festival | Conjugal Visit | Nominated |
| 2022 | Best direction | Urban International Film Festival | Conjugal Visit | Nominated |