Amin Palangi is an award-winning filmmaker known for his intimate and captivating portrait of people in extreme circumstances.

His debut documentary, LOVE MARRIAGE IN KABUL, won the Audience Award at Sydney Film Festival, Best Direction from the Australian Directors Guild and was released theatrically in Australia and broadcast internationally in over twenty-six countries. His credits also include several award-winning short films such as BREAK, CLOSE DISTANCE and his AFTRS graduating film VAFADAR (LOYAL), and web series including Screen Australia funded I LUV U BUT. As a cinematographer, Amin received a Cine Award for AFGHANISTAN BY CHOICE, directed by Sundance and Emmy Award winner Alexandria Bombach.

Amin founded the Persian Film Festival in Australia in 2011 and has been the director of the program since. He holds a PhD in film studies from ANU, an MA in screenwriting from AFTRS, and is the Screen Production Lecturer at the University of New South Wales.

Amin’s recent feature film Tennessine, starring Osamah Sami (Ali’s Wedding, Shayda), premiered at the Sydney Film Festival 2023 and release in early 2024.

2023 Runner up, Best Direction, Australian Directors Guild
Tennessine

2019 Winner, Top Shorts Film Festival
Break

2019 Runner up, AACTA Awards Social Shorts Nominee
Sheltered

2019 Winner, Zest Awards, Western Sydney Community Forum
Sheltered

2017 Winner, 60th CINE Golden Eagle Award
Afghanistan by Choice

2016 Winner, Golden Phoenix, Fajr Intl. Film Festival
Love Marriage in Kabul

2015 Winner, Best Direction Australian Directors Guild
Love Marriage in Kabul

2014 Winner, Audience Choice, Sydney Film Festival
Love Marriage in Kabul

2014 Winner, Canberra Intl. Film Festival
Love Marriage in Kabul

2014 Runner up, The Walkley Award
Love Marriage in Kabul

2014 Runner up, Film Critics of Australia Award
Love Marriage in Kabul

2013 Grant recipient, Australian Council for the Arts

2012 Winner, Best Short film at Korean Film Festival
Immigrant and Cigarettes

2008 Winner, Best Documentary, Noor Film Festival, LA
Hidden Generations

2008 Winner, Best Short Film, ATOM Awards
Close Distance

2017 Festival Jury, Sydney Film Festival – Best Documentary Category
2015 Australian Delegation, Sunny Side of the Doc in France
2015 Festival Jury, ATOM Awards – Best Documentary Category
2015 Panelist, Australian Centre of Photography – Imagining Iran
2014 Festival Jury, Antenna Documentary Film Festival
2014 Festival Jury, Sydney Latin American Film Festival
2013 Australian Delegation, Asian Side of the Doc
2012 Festival Jury, Colourfest Film Festival
2012 Video Curator, TEDx Parramatta
2011 Presenter, ViViD Creative Sydney – Imagemakers: Visual Enchantment
2011 Festival Jury, 48 Green Hour Film Festival