Born and raised in the U.S. in 1975, Ramin Bahrani received his BA from Columbia University in New York City before moving to his parents? homeland of Iran for three years where he made his student thesis film, Strangers (2000). His directorial debut was in the film Backgammon (1998). His first feature film, Man Push Cart (2005) premiered in the Venice Days section of the Venice Film Festival and then screened at Sundance (2006). The film won more than ten international prizes, was released theatrically around the world, and was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards.
Bahrani?s second film, Chop Chop (2007) premiered in Director?s Fortnight at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Goodbye Solo (2008) won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival.
In 2008 Bahrani was awarded the prestigious ?Someone to Watch' Independent Spirit Award. In 2009, Ramin BAHRANI was cited as "the new great American director" by legendary film critic Roger Ebert.