Abdollah Eskandari
Mehdi Zare
36:17
38:41
38:26
21:09
2:30
17:37
41:00
1:18:20
2:09
5:37
Biography
Abdollah Eskandari (born 18 October 1945, Tehran) is one of Iran’s most distinguished make-up designers and character make-up artists. He began his professional career in 1972 at the National Iranian Television under the supervision of Bijan Mohtasham and became a pioneer of character-based make-up design in Iranian cinema.
Eskandari has worked on more than 170 feature films, over 20 historical television series, and numerous theatrical and operatic productions. His notable works include My Uncle Napoleon, The Deer, Hezardastan, Mother, Nassereddin Shah, Actor-e Cinema, The Fateful Day (Rooz-e Vagheh), Baanoo, Mokhtarnameh, and Passenger from Rey. He has also participated in international productions in France, Germany, Syria, Jordan, Morocco, the UAE, and Malaysia. In 2019, a statue honoring him was unveiled at the Iran Television and Cinema Town in Tehran.
Education
Eskandari received his professional training in make-up artistry through practical apprenticeship and specialized work at the National Iranian Television beginning in 1972 under the guidance of master make-up artist Bijan Mohtasham. His career development was primarily based on extensive professional experience in film and television production.
Activities and Works
Major Film Credits
- The Deer
- The Hive
- Tall Shadows of the Wind
- Hezardastan
- The Peddler
- Baanoo
- Mother
- Nassereddin Shah, Actor-e Cinema
- The Fateful Day
- The Survivor
- Sahereh
- The Snowman
- Delshodegan
- Passenger from Rey
- A Cube of Sugar
- No Date, No Signature
- Lantouri
- Once Upon a Time in Abadan
Major Television Productions
- My Uncle Napoleon
- Hezardastan
- Amir Kabir
- Masal Abad
- Once Upon a Time
- Imam Ali
- The English Bag
- Lost
- The Lost Impeccability
- Zero Degree Turn
- Under the Blade
- Ashpazbashi
- Mokhtarnameh
- Salman Farsi (in production)
International Projects
- Sallahedin (Syria)
- Cup of Blood (Syria)
- Zayed & The Dream (UAE)
- Various film and television productions in France, Germany, Jordan, Morocco, Malaysia, and the UAE.
Achievements and Awards
Crystal Simorgh Awards (Fajr International Film Festival)
- Best Make-up for Mother (1989)
- Best Make-up for Nassereddin Shah, Actor-e Cinema (1991)
- Best Make-up for The Fateful Day (1995)
- Best Make-up for Sahereh (1996)
- Best Make-up for Passenger from Rey (2000)
Other Honors
- Lifetime Achievement Award, 23rd Fajr International Film Festival (2003)
- Best Make-up Award, House of Cinema Festival for Baanoo (1999)
- Best Make-up Award, House of Cinema Festival for A Cube of Sugar (2011)
- Best Artistic Achievement Award for Lantouri (2017)
- Multiple national and international awards from Iranian, Syrian, and Dubai film festivals.
Video Index
Chapters:
- From Childhood to Entering the Film Industry
- 00:02 From Childhood to High School Graduation
- 05:35 From High School Graduation to Beginning a Career in Makeup Design
- 11:59 Training at National Television and Entry into the Film Industry
- Selected Works – Part I
- 00:02 Collaboration with Masoud Kimiai
- 07:47 Collaboration with Alireza Davoudnejad
- 12:33 Collaboration with Bahram Beyzaie
- 17:22 Collaboration with Mohsen Makhmalbaf
- Selected Works – Part II
- 00:02 Collaboration with Rakhshan Banietemad
- 03:26 Collaboration with Dariush Mehrjui
- 08:41 Collaboration with Ali Hatami
- 19:48 Collaboration with Davood Mirbagheri
- Selected Works – Part III
- Awards and Honors
- Personal Life
- 00:02 What Has Been the Most Important Day of Your Life?
- 09:58 The Impact of Your Profession on Your Personal Life
- 13:36 Relationship with Other Art Forms
- Professional Experiences and Working Methods
- 00:02 Character Design Methodology
- 02:52 Challenges at the Beginning of a Career in Makeup Design
- 05:50 The Design Process
- 15:29 Which Director Have You Been Most in Sync with?
- 18:06 Have You Worked in Any Other Area of Cinema Besides Makeup Design?
- 22:12 Why Did You Choose Makeup Design as Your Profession?
- 28:52 Which Film You Worked on Has Had the Greatest Impact on You?
- 30:58 For Which Non-Iranian Film Would You Have Liked to Be the Makeup Designer?
- 33:26 What Has Been the Greatest Challenge in Your Professional Career?
- 34:41 What Do You Consider the Key to Your Success?
- 35:44 Have You Ever Regretted Undertaking a Professional Project?
- 37:24 Which of Your Works Do You Like the Most?
- 37:55 Which Award Has Given You the Greatest Sense of Satisfaction?
- 38:56 Working in Theatre
- Makeup Design and Cinema
- 00:02 Factors Influencing the Quality of Makeup Design
- 15:02 The Impact of External Developments on the Art of Makeup Design
- 24:03 The Role of the Makeup Designer in the Film Production Process
- 38:25 Three-Dimensional (3D) Makeup Design
- 45:19 What Do You Gain from Watching Your Own Works?
- 46:22 The History of Makeup Art in Iran
- 50:54 Differences Between the Older and Younger Generations of Makeup Artists
- 55:24 Learning and Training in Makeup Design
- 58:35 On Ali Hatami
- 01:02:04 Recent Developments in Cinema
- 01:04:51 Changing Audience Preferences
- 01:06:32 On the Separation of the National and International Sections of the Fajr Film Festival
- 01:07:43 On the Use of a Foreign Makeup Designer in Muhammad
- 01:14:25 The Impact of Computer Technology on Makeup Design and Cinema
- The Influence of the Audience on Artistic Works
- 00:02 On Negative Criticism
- Personal Worldview
- 00:02 What Is the Difference Between Your World of Imagination and Reality?
- 01:01 Do You Believe Artists Have a Social Responsibility?
- 03:27 How Would You Describe Yourself?
- 04:18 Hopes and Disappointments
- 04:53 Advice for Young People Interested in Makeup Design
Personal Information
- Birthday: 18 October 1945
- Birthplace: Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- Interview date: 21.01.2018- 10.02.2018