Mehdi Shadizadeh is an Iranian photographer, visual artist, and cultural organizer whose practice spans photography, video art, documentary filmmaking, and curatorial projects. His work is rooted in long-term visual research and focuses on themes of human presence, memory, absence, and contemporary social realities. Working mainly with black-and-white imagery, he moves between documentary sensitivity and conceptual approaches.

= Artistic Fields

Fine Art Photography (Black & White)

Conceptual & Documentary Photography

Video Art & Experimental Film

Documentary Filmmaking

Curatorial Practice

Festival Direction & Cultural Programming

Selected Artistic & Professional Activities

Founder & Director: Founder and director of an independent international festival dedicated to film, photography, and visual arts.

Curated multiple editions featuring international artists, filmmakers, and photographers.

Organized exhibitions, screenings, artist talks, and commemorative programs honoring influential figures in cinema and photography.

Curator: Curated group exhibitions of photography and video art in independent galleries and cultural spaces.

Focus on concept-driven exhibitions and long-term visual projects rather than single-image presentations.

Photographer & Visual Artist

Produced multiple photographic series centered on human solitude, urban silence, memory, and marginal spaces.

Works characterized by minimalism, strong atmosphere, and emotional restraint.

Presented works in exhibitions, festivals, and curated projects.

Documentary & Video Art Projects

Directed and produced documentary and video art works with a focus on cultural figures, artistic memory, and social narratives.

Projects screened within festival frameworks and special cultural events.

Exhibitions & Festivals (Selected)

Group and curated exhibitions within the framework of FIVE International Film & Photo Festival

Screenings and presentations in independent cultural and cinematic venues

Participation in festival-related exhibitions and commemorative programs

Artistic Approach

Shadizadeh’s work avoids direct storytelling and instead emphasizes atmosphere, silence, and unresolved meaning. His images invite slow viewing and reflection, positioning photography as a space for pause rather than explanation.

Professional Roles:

Festival Director

Artistic Curator

Photographer

Documentary Filmmaker

Cultural Organizer