TEHRAN - Veteran Iranian film critic, author and filmmaker Zaven Qukasian passed away at his home in Isfahan on Friday following a battle with stomach cancer. He was 64.
He spent the five months prior to February in a hospital in Vienna receiving treatment for his illness, some Persian news websites announced on Friday.
He pursued treatment at Al Zahrawi Hospital after returning to his hometown of Isfahan in early February.
Born into an Iranian-Armenian family in 1950, Qukasian, whose career in filmmaking spans nearly 40 years, directed a number of movies, short films and documentaries.
He was the author of a large number books and biographies of prominent Iranian filmmakers and stars, including Bahram Beizaii, Masud Kimiaii, Abbas Kiarostami, Bahman Farmanara, Khosro Sinaii, Golab Adineh, Reza Arham-Sadr and Fatemeh Motamed-Arya.
He made his debut feature “All My Children” in 1984. He had previously directed the short films “Ancient Bride” and “Another Season”, and the documentaries “Jolfa, My Museum” and “The Picture of Imagination”.
Qukasian will be laid to rest beside the tombs of his parents in the Armenian Cemetery in Isfahan.
MA/YAW
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