'The Jungle Book.' It's one of the best animated films ever. I saw it when I was small at a cinema in Tehran.

I'm a very individualistic person. That is why I don't belong to any political party or anything. I really believe in justice and freedom.

As a director, you have to understand what is happening - if I don't understand it, you can't make changes.

If today I have to make a political statement, it is, 'I love beauty.' I think beauty makes people better.

You hear people saying, 'Oh I'm so tired, I've had enough of Cannes.' How can you have enough of Cannes? It's just the best place to be, like a fairytale.

I'm someone who lived in a war for five years. I received bombs on my head every day of my childhood. Did that stop me from living? Did that stop me from laughing?

Racism is not nearly as important as poverty. That's the same around the world. What look like ethnic problems are really economic issues. If you look closely at all these conflicts around the world, they come down to poverty and economics and resources. The more poverty, the worse the war.