LA based writer- director Tara Motamedi, is first generation American. She’s from a Kurdish and Azeri background and grew up in Tehran. Tara has a BA in Film Production and an MFA in Screenwriting, and speaks three languages.
Awards & Recognitions
Shondaland Women Directing Mentorship 2024
NBC-Universal Launch TV Directors Program 2023
Ryan Murphy’s HALF Initiative TV Directing Mentee 2023
Spokane International Film Festival Audience Award Winner + streaming Jury Award Winner 2023
WorldFest Houston International Film Festival. Remi Award Winner 2023
Sedona International Film Festival. Best Short Film Audience Award Winner 2023
NFMLA InFocus Grant Recipient 2022
16 Days, 16 Films. Audience Award Winner 2022
Lena Waithe’s Rising Voices Director (Indeed, Hillman Grad, Ventureland) 2022
Motion Picture Academy. Nicholl Fellowship Semi-finalist 2019
WGA . Feature Writer Access Project Honoree 2018
Television Academy Foundation. College Emmy Winner 2015
Universal Pictures . Emerging Writers Fellowship Finalist 2015
USA Film Festival . Jury Award Winner (Oscar qualifying festival) 2014
World of Women International Film Festival of Sydney. Best International Short Winner 2014
Cleveland International Film Festival - Best Short Film (Oscar qualifying award) 2014
Montreal World Film Festival. Competition Category (Oscar qualifying festival) 2013
Spokane International Film Festival. Best Short Film & Audience Award Winner 2014
Black Mariah Film Festival. Jury Award & Audience Award Winner 2014
Sedona International Film Festival. Spirit Award Winner 2014
Nocicinema Film Festival of Italy. Student Panel Prize Winner 2014
Directors Guild of America - Best Female Director winner 2013
“Empowering Middle Eastern women, on camera and off…”
Indeed Rising Voices panel at Tribeca
“NFMLA screens newest film from Iranian filmmaker…”
“the film that shook me to my core was Tara Motamedi’s…”
“Hollywood, please keep a sharp eye on Tara Motamedi…”
“We’re pleased to announce the honorees…“
“two minorities, one woman and three writers of…”
“Writers Guild of America West has named honorees for…”
Thank you camera at the College Emmy Awards
“ Janice Cooke presents award to Best Student Filmmaker to…”