Abbas Kiarostami

From my very first movie, what was my concentration, my inspiration, was I didn't want to narrate something, I didn't want to tell a story. I wanted to show something, I wanted for them to make their own story from what they were seeing. ”

When I talk to some of the younger filmmakers, they are so worried about their films that, eventually, this state of being worried reflects itself in and helps the final work. Whereas, with projects that are meticulously planned, you look at the end result and it is full of emptiness. ”

I think I really produce my best work in Iran. ”

There are at least two retrospectives of my work each year in some country. ”

I would be too selfish if I said everyone should see my movies more than once. To say that would mean I'm just marketing my work! ”

A work of art doesn't exist outside the perception of the audience. ”