In 1982, the annual Fajr Film Festival financed films. The Farabi Cinema Foundation then stepped in to try and reassemble the disorganized cinema. The following year, the government began to provide financial aid. This change in regime encouraged a whole new generation of filmmakers, which included female directors as well. Audiences loved her on-screen presence—her expressive eyes, playful humor, and relatable portrayals of women made her a familiar and beloved figure.
She was part of an industry that gave some of its most memorable films before the revolution of 1979 transformed the country’s cultural landscape. While cinema was her entry point, music became her second great passion. Shahnaz developed a reputation for Persian folk and pop-inspired songs, which carried themes of love, longing, and celebration.
