Mehrdad Oskouei (b. 1969, Tehran) is a celebrated Iranian independent documentary filmmaker, producer, and photographer known for his deeply humanistic and critically acclaimed work. His films often explore sensitive and challenging social issues within Iranian society, particularly focusing on marginalized groups, youth, and women. Oskouei has directed, produced, and written over 25 documentaries and short films, many of which have been screened at prestigious international festivals, garnering over 180 awards. He gained significant recognition for his tetralogy focusing on the lives of incarcerated youth, including It’s Always Late for Freedom (2007), The Last Days of Winter (2011), multi award winning Starless Dreams (2016), which captured the lives of teenage girls in a correctional facility, and Sunless Shadows (2019), Opening Film of IDFA, winner of the Best Directing Award, continued this exploration, offering intimate portraits of women in a youth detention center who were imprisoned for the murder of a male family member. His achievements have been recognized globally; he is a recipient of the 2010 Prince Claus Award from the Netherlands for his commitment to accurately representing the concerns of his subjects and generating social justice. He also received the True Vision Award at the True/False Film Fest in 2016. Oskouei is a founding member of the Institute of Anthropology and Culture in Iran and serves as a film educator, actively shaping the next generation of Iranian documentary filmmakers.