In Kurdistan, theres a lot of hardship - a lot of wars, a lot of bitter and difficult lifestyles. And witnessing all those made me a director.

I used to believe that people are only born once, but now I feel I have been reborn, like I was given a new life. I see myself as a child, full of energy and hope.

I always loved music, and I always wanted to make a film about it, but I could never do it because of the censorship that was around.

You need a team that speaks your language.

For me, its better to live without looking over your shoulder, worrying about who is controlling your phone, maybe poisoning your food.

Im free - but Im also not free because there are millions of young people living in Iran. A filmmaker can only do a little.

I had no education in filmmaking. I started with a 8mm camera. I made 34 films, and little by little I gained more experience in filming.

I love music, I make films with music, I eat with music, I sleep with music, I think with music. Music makes me dream, it strengthens my creativity.

Actually, the only thing I regret is not making more underground films and bringing them with me as historical documents.

I use humour a lot. My foundation is tragic, but my appearance is humorous.

Leaders are raised through training and experience. Nobody was born naturally with hand-gloves of leadership. We come to life to search for it, discover it and optimize it.

Apparently wizards poke their noses in everywhere!

How can you be expected to govern a country that has 246 kinds of cheese?

If I am a cup maker, I'm interested in making the best cup I possibly can. My effort goes into that cup, not what people think about it.

In every relationship, sooner or later, there is a court scene. Accusations, counter-accusations, a trial, a verdict.

The destructive one-fourth must be eliminated from the social body.

We shall not lightly talk about sacrifice until we are driven to the last extremity which makes sacrifice inevitable.

My grandfather went through a lot in his life.

They that endeavour to abolish vice destroy also virtue, for contraries, though they destroy one another, are yet the life of one another.

I know that I cannot change the entire world, but I've always believed I can at least affect change in my world.