Mani Haghighi is a multifaceted Iranian creative force, proficient in the roles of film director, writer, producer, and actor. His cinematic journey began in 2001.
Educated in Iran, Haghighi's academic pursuits took him to Canada, where he attended Appleby College at the tender age of 15. He then pursued a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy at McGill University in Montréal, studying under renowned scholars Charles Taylor and Brian Massumi. During his time at McGill, Haghighi honed his skills by directing plays, including Pinter's Betrayal and Shakespeare's Macbeth. He went on to further his education through postgraduate studies at Guelph and Trent universities.
Haghighi's academic endeavors also led to the publication of a chapter in A Shock to Thought: Expression after Deleuze and Guattari, edited by Brian Massumi. Additionally, he translated Michel Foucault's This is Not a Pipe into Persian.
Between 2007 and 2016, Haghighi focused on producing and directing two documentaries about the esteemed Iranian filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui. The first documentary, Hamoun's Fans (2008),delved into the widespread success of Mehrjui's cult classic Hamoun (1989). Haghighi issued an open call to individuals who considered themselves fans of the film, asking them to submit a one-page explanation of their reasons for loving it. From the numerous responses, he selected five individuals to share their stories.
The second documentary, Mehrjui: The 40 Year Report (2015),is a comprehensive exploration of Mehrjui's extensive body of work. The film features in-depth interviews with Mehrjui himself, as well as his collaborators and critics. This cinematic masterpiece earned Haghighi the Best Documentary Film Director Award at the Fajr Film Festival in Tehran.
