Actually, the only thing I regret is not making more underground films and bringing them with me as historical documents.

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.

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.

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.

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

Simplicity is power. The power to do less of what doesn't matter and more of what does.

You behave as if everything is funny to you, but you never laugh. Sometimes you smile when you think no one is paying attention.

I envy people who write easily. I enjoy the process, but it's not easeful for me.

Longevity is the key to success.

My favorite video game of all time is called 'Black Tiger'. It's a Capcom Dungeons and Dragons game from 1987. I have the actual arcade version sitting in my office.

Truly free people do not need to be told they are free.

Telling the truth, and confronting the challenge, is what politics is about.

Sable-vested Night, eldest of things.

Poetry was the maiden I loved, but politics was the harridan I married.

In short, I'm pretty suspicious of the idea that there's a real and true and authentic world, and then a bunch of false ones.