# Maryam Moghaddam

Maryam Moghaddam (Persian: مریم مقدم; born 1969 or 1970), also spelt Moghadam and Moqadam, is an Iranian actress, screenwriter, and director, known for her collaborations with her husband Behtash Sanaeeha. She is best known for her acting in Closed Curtain (2013) and Risk of Acid Rain (2015) (which she also co-wrote), and co-writing and directing Ballad of a White Cow (2020). The couple's most recent collaboration is My Favourite Cake, which had its world premiere on 16 February 2024 at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.

## Early years and education

Maryam Moghaddam (also transliterated as Moghadam and Moqadam) was born in 1969 or 1970 in Tehran, Iran.
She graduated from the Performing Arts School in Gothenburg, Sweden.

## Career

Moghaddam performed on the stage many times in Sweden, including at the National Theatre in Gothenburg.
In 1993, she had her first role in a feature film in Zero Height (Bolandiha-ye Sefr), directed by Hossein-Ali Layalestani. She also starred in The Legend of Love (2000) directed by Farhad Mehranfar, and Closed Curtain (Pardé; 2013).
Moghaddam co-wrote Risk of Acid Rain (2015) with her husband Behtash Sanaeeha, and she acted in the film.
She starred in the 2017 film Termite(s) (Mouriyaneh), directed by Masoud Hatami, which also starred Behtash Sanaeeha. It won two awards at the 2019 Figura Film Festival in Portugal.
Her debut directing effort with her husband was The Invincible Diplomacy of Mr. Naderi, released in 2018. She then co-wrote and co-directed Ballad of a White Cow (released 2020) with Sanaeeha.
Also with Shaeeha, she co-wrote and co-directed My Favourite Cake, which had its world premiere on 16 February 2024 at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.

## Accolades

Moghaddam has received many accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh, and a nomination for an Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association Award.
Other awards and nominations include:
* 2015: Co-winner (with Behtash Sanaeeha), Best Screenplay, at the 33rd Fajr Film Festival, for Risk Of Acid Rain
* 2017: Co-winner (with Behtash Sanaeeha), Best Documentary Film, Cinéma Vérité documentary film festival in Tehran, for The Invincible Diplomacy of Mr. Naderi
* 2017: Co-winner (with Behtash Sanaeeha), Best Documentary Film, Hafez Awards, for The Invincible Diplomacy of Mr. Naderi
* 2018: Co-winner (with Behtash Sanaeeha), Best Documentary Film at the Festival of Iranian Films in Prague, for The Invincible Diplomacy of Mr. Naderi
* 2019: Nominated, Best Actress in a Leading Role, in 38th edition of the Fajr Film Festival, for her role in Ballad of a White Cow
* 2019: Nominated, Best Script, in the 38th edition of the Fajr Film Festival, for Ballad of a White Cow
* 2024: FIPRESCI Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, for My Favourite Cake
* 2024: Ecumenical Jury Award at the Berlinale, for My Favourite Cake

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
| 1993 | Zero Height (Bolandiha-ye Sefr) | Mahtab | Hossein Ali Layalestani | |
| 1997 | Cinema Is Cinema | Mandana | Ziaeddin Dorri | |
| 2000 | Legend of Love | Khazar | Farhad Mehranfar | |
| 2003 | Silence Between Two Thoughts | | Babak Payami | |
| 2006 | The Confrontation | Mahtab | Saeed Ebrahimifar | |
| 2013 | Closed Curtain | Melika | Jafar Panahi, Kambuzia Partovi | |
| 2015 | Risk of Acid Rain | Mahsa | Behtash Sanaeeha | also as screenwriter, executive producer |
| 2017 | Leaf of Life | Nasim | Ebrahim Mokhtari |
| 2017 | Termite(s) | | Hasoud Matami | |
| 2018 | The Invincible Diplomacy of Mr. Naderi | | Behtash Sanaeeha, Maryam Moghaddam | Documentary film, also as screenwriter |
| 2020 | Ballad of a White Cow | Mina | Behtash Sanaeeha, Maryam Moghaddam | also as screenwriter |
| 2024 | My Favorite Cake | | Behtash Sanaeeha, Maryam Moghaddam | World premiere at 74th Berlin International Film Festival in February |

### Television

* Fallet, 2009 (STV series; directed by Caroline Cowan)
* Chalsio, 2011 (TV movie, directed by Behtash Sanaeeha)