Profile
Filmsaaz (Saleh Kashefi) is an Iranian underground audiovisual artist whose works bring a bold lens upon contemporary youth culture exploring topics of emancipations and awakenings from conditionings, the duality of the Islamic youth, queerness in toxic masculine and Islamic countries. Their work questions empathy and compassion, and re-examines history through personal, ‘no-budget’ films that have gone on to be screened with international acclaim.
Filmsaaz has been part of film festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Locarno, Visions du Réel, IDFA and FID. A recipient of l’Abri associated artist, Master ECAL/HEAD alumni and currently enrolling in Le Fresnoy, Saleh Kashefi has made 18 short films which have been included in over 200 film festivals around the world and have won 40 awards. Working under the pseudonym Filmsaaz as a visual artist, musician and DJ, having exhibited and performed in different venues around the world. Filmsaaz’s debut LP titled “harmony/disharmony” was released in April 2025 and their first feature-length film, the audiovisual opera “Wolfgang” is planned for release in the first half of 2026.
