Born in southeast Iran, Alireza Khatami draws from the rich oral storytelling traditions of his heritage, crafting a unique style that blends magic realism with sharp social commentary. His debut feature, Oblivion Verses, garnered the Best Screenplay award at Venice. His sophomore feature Terrestrial Verses premiered at Cannes, followed by The Things You Kill, which won Best Director in the World Dramatic Cinema section at Sundance 2025.