Headshot of Pirooz Kalayeh.

Pirooz Kalayeh

he/him/his

Assistant Professor of English

PhD, The European Graduate School

Office Location
407 Morey Hall
Web Address
Website

Curriculum Vitae

Biography

Pirooz Kalayeh’s films have been featured in national publications and screened theatrically via distributors, streaming providers, festivals, and museums around the world, including Galway Film Fleadh, L.A. Weekly, Indiewire, New Faces New Voices, Village Voice, African Diaspora International Film Festival, Buddhist Film Festival Europe, The Johann Jacobs Museum, and many others. Pirooz's latest documentary feature, SOMETIMES I DREAM IN FARSI, examines a traumatic racist incident in his childhood and how Gestalt Therapy and discussions with friends and family can offer a path forward for children and adults who have had similar experiences. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Screenwriting and Film and Media Production at University of Rochester.

Research Overview

Pirooz Kalayehloves combining his multifaceted experiences as an artist, musician, writer, actor, and director to create innovations in storytelling. His creative work spans seven feature films thatrange in style and genre – from dramatic narrative, rom-com, experimental, and documentary. His films have been featured in national publications andscreened theatrically via distributors, streaming providers, festivals, and museums around the world, including Beloit International,L.A. Weekly, Indiewire, New Faces New Voices,Village Voice, Buddhist Film Festival Europe, The Johann Jacobs Museum, and many others.

His pandemic-era film,100 FILMS, sources and directs talent virtually, resulting in what famed museum curator Roger M. Buergel describes “as an exercise in pattern-reading” and an understanding in “how the pandemic affects…each one of us…as humanity, as a planet, as life.”

Pirooz's latest documentary feature,SOMETIMES I DREAM IN FARSI,examines a traumatic racist incident in his childhood and how Gestalt Therapy and discussions with friends and family can offer a path forward for children and adults who have had similar experiences.The film world premiered at the 33rdGalway Film Fleadh, was awarded Best U.S. Documentary Feature by the New York Independent Cinema Awards, and will be distributed by Select Services Films, Inc.

Pirooz received his PhD in Media and Communication fromThe European Graduate School. Hisdissertationwas on digital media and new hybrids within contemporary Iranian Cinema. His instructors included Terrence Mallick, Wim Wenders, Wendy Brown, and Barbara Hammer. His supervisor was Mike Figgis.

His upcoming project MY ROOM IN TEHRAN IS CALLED AMERICA details an Iranian writer’s journey from Iran to America.

Research Interests

  • Hybrid Cinema
  • Iranian Cinema
  • Narrative Film Production
  • Documentary Production
  • Multicultural Programming
  • Animation

Selected Publications

Selected Films

Teaching

Courses taught include:

  • Screenwriting: The Short Film
  • Screenwriting: TV Writing
  • Screenwriting: The Feature Film
  • Screenwriting: Adaptation
  • Introduction to Video Art
  • Senior Capstone
  • Korean Cinema

Honors

  • 2023: Exceptional Merit, SOMETIMES I DREAM IN FARSI, Docs Without Borders International Film Festival, Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, February 19, 2023.
  • 2022: Best Refugee, Indigenous, Storytelling, SOMETIMES I DREAM IN FARSI, Social Change International Film Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, October 14-15, 2022.
  • 2022: Best Participatory Documentary Feature, SOMETIMES I DREAM IN FARSI, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, London, England, August 10-14, 2022.
  • 2022: Best Documentary Feature, SOMETIMES I DREAM IN FARSI, Katra Film Series, NY, NY, April 2022.
  • 2022: Best U.S. Documentary Feature, SOMETIMES I DREAM IN FARSI, New York Independent Cinema Awards, January 2022.
  • 2014: Best Screenplay Award, THE HUMAN WAR, Beloit International Film Festival 2014.
  • 2002: Zora Neale Hurston Award, Summer Writing Program, Naropa University, 2002.