In my mind, there isn't as much of a distinction between documentary and fiction as there is between a good movie and a bad one.

In this type of cinema, whether working with actors or non-actors, as much as you do direct them, if you allow yourself to be directed by them, then the end result will be much more pleasing. The real and individual strengths of the actors is allowed to be expressed and is something that does affect the audience very deeply.

In order to be able to cooperate with a child, you have to come down to below their level in order to communicate with them. Actors are also like children.

The Iranian government as a whole has no relationship with my films. They're not particularly interested, perhaps this kind of cinema is not very interesting to them.

In order to be universal, you have to be rooted in your own culture.

It seems that film-makers are being divided between those working in digital and those who are not. I think it's not something predetermined - it all depends on what project we have in mind, and on that basis we choose the medium.

I think life is so difficult to catch, it's so furtive, that a copy, a film, can in no way catch it and represent it.