about me

Nafiss Nia is an Iranian-Dutch filmmaker, poet, cultural entrepreneur and public speaker. Nafiss is also the director of Granate Foundation in Amsterdam and in that capacity produces programs such as Words That Matter, The Poetry on the sidewalk and How do you dance a poem. 

EDUCATION

Nafiss studied Cinema in Iran at the Film Faculty of Art University and Modern Persian Literature at the State University in Tehran. In the Netherlands she studied Script Writing at the Film and Television Academy in Amsterdam. In 2019-2020, Nafiss has followed the program LinC Lage Landen, organised by the University of Utrecht and Business School in Antwerp. LinC is a program for leaders in art and cultural sector working in the Netherlands and Flanders.

Granate

As founder and director of Granate, Nafiss Nia is committed to promoting greater cultural inclusivity in film and literature. Granate presents the versatility of poetry in combination with film and other disciplines and always in an inclusive setting. The form varies but the core remains the same: promoting poetry in our midst. The name Granate refers to the Pomegranate, a fruit full of jewels that shine individually, but together form a strong fruit. The pomegranate symbolises diversity and unity of life. www.granate.nl

FILM PRODUCTions

  • That Afternoon (Die middag) (Feature Film, 74 min, 2023), Writer and Director. Two people marked by their past are looking for a way out. They meet through a closed door, causing two life stories with one fate to be revealed. Releasd in May 2023. Producer: Halal Film&TV.
  • Words That Matter (an eight part, 25 minute documentary series 2022), Writer, Director and Producer. A serie documentaries, in which poets each time address a social theme from an artistic and personal angle. Producer: Granate
  • Dance, Iranian Style (82 min- 2015), Writer and Producer. (directed by Farshad Aria): a very moving docu-fiction about Roya, a failed asylum seeker who has to get by on the streets of Amsterdam. Producer: 1001 Production House/Granate. So far: 6 festivals / 2 awards / shot in 25 cinemas
  • Dus (2 min- 2015), Screenplay, Director and Producer.
    An ultra short documentary in which three children talk openly about freedom, peace and war. Commissioned by the Granate Foundation. Screened during the Freedom Event in 2015
  • A,B,C, …  (52 min- 2011), Writer, Director and Producer. ​A personal documentary. Nafiss looks back to the time when she learnt Dutch language from three volunteers in the back room of a church in Amersfoort. Producer: 1001 Production House​
  • Lost in Between  (7 min- 2007), Writer and Producer. 
    This short film is the first Dutch movie with a complete cast and crew from Iranian origin.

PUBLICATIONS

  • ​Esfahan, mijn hoopstee, her first collection of poetry in the Netherlands (2005) publishing house Bornmeer. Reprinted four times.
  • Stegen van Stilte, her translation of a hundred years of modern Persian poetry (in collaboration with R Bos) (2007) publisher Bulaaq.
  • De momenten wachten ons voorbij, her second collection of poetry (2012) publishing house Boekfabriek.
  • ​26 woorden voor schoonheid, her third collection of poetry (2019) publishing house Orlando.
  • Drie druppels bloed en nog meer, her translation of a hundred years of modern Persian short stories. in development.

Poems and other work by Nafiss are included in more than forty poetry collection bundles, anthologies and (literary) magazines. ao 'Blauwgoud' composed by Patrick Riubroeks and Thomas Mölmann and 'I don't know which road you take', composed by Arie Boomsma and in Tirade, Meander, Liegende rabbit, Balustrade, NRC next, Trouw, Volkskrant, Groene Amsterdammer and Deus ex machine. She regularly recites her poems on literary stages.

Workshops & guest colleges

  • Organization Cultural event: Nafiss shares her experience as a cultural entrepreneur and organizer of various successful events with the participants;
  • Poetry Programming: How do you program a lively, in-depth and engaging poetry program? Nafiss answers this question with facts and examples;
  • Pernederlandisch: Poetry workshop, Think in Persian, write in Dutch. For Dutch aspiring & advanced poets;
  • Speed ​​Poems: Poetry Workshop. For Dutch aspiring & advanced poets;​
  • Film workshops: Nafiss also provides guest lectures, including 'Script writing', Log line & Synopsis writing' for aspiring filmmakers and students by invitation.;
  • Tailor-made workshop: In consultation with the client, Nafiss Nia provides Film & Poetry workshops and lectures on inclusiveness and cultural globalisation.