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Iranian Cinema is a rich and diverse cinema that has been in existence since the 1930s amidst oppressive regimes, censorship and even in the face of exile. The history of film as an art form in Iran dates back to the pioneering days of cinema when the first movie theatre opened in Tehran in 1904. Film was less than ten years old at the time and many Iranians flocked to cinemas to watch these primitive masterpieces. However, it would be another 25 years before Iran would develop its own national cinema, a cinema of morality, humanity, abandon and integrity. Starting with the opening of the first film school in 1925, an Iranian national cinema quickly began to develop. Since then, cinema has served as an ambassador for Iran, the heart and soul of a country marred by years of instability. As a result Iranian national cinema has become an engaging, chaotic, soulful and poignant cinema. It remains a true testament to the resilience and industrious nature of the Iranian people and serves as a veracious voice through which Iran can tells its varied and compelling stories. This is a list of the 15 essential Iranian films of all time.

1. The House is Black (Forough Farrokhzad, 1963)

2. The Brick and The Mirror [aka Brick and Mirror] (Ebrahim Golestan, 1965)

3. The Cow (Daryush Mehrjui, 1969)

4. Still Life (Sohrab Shahid-Saless, 1974)

5. The Runner (Amir Naderi, 1985)

6. The Cyclist (Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 1987)

7. Close Up (Abbas Kiarostami, 1990)

8. A Moment of Innocence [aka Bread and Flower Pot] (Mohsen Makhmalbaf, 1996)

9. Taste of Cherry (Abbas Kiarostami, 1997)

10. The Apple (Samira Makhmalbaf, 1998)

11. The Color of Paradise (Majid Majidi, 1999)

12. The Day I Became a Woman (Marzieh Meshkini, 2000)

13. Ten (Abbas Kiarostami, 2002)

14. Turtles Can Fly (Bahman Gobadi, 2004)

15. A Separation (Asghar Farhadi, 2011)