Hi, I’m Afshin Azizi. I’m a multidisciplinary musician and composer from Iran. I began my musical education at seven, starting with the Setar and later expanding to Flamenco guitar, Tar, and piano. I completed three years of formal training in harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration, and I have since built a career scoring documentary films and animation. I have contributed to IDFA editions with a range of projects and collaborations with various directors. Most notably, I composed the score for In the Shadow of the Cypress, the short animated film that won the Oscar Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2025. I have scored numerous documentaries including Hawa, A Fox Under a Pink Moon, Subtotals, Sunless Shadows, Finding Farideh, Starless Dreams, Forbidden Strings (IDFA Luminous section), Pale Blue, Shouting at the Wind, A House for You, Hamja, and others. I enjoy blending traditional Iranian musical textures with contemporary cinematic language to help stories resonate through music.…

Afshin Azizi

PRO

Hi, I’m Afshin Azizi. I’m a multidisciplinary musician and composer from Iran. I began my musical education at seven, starting with the Setar and later expanding to Flamenco guitar, Tar, and piano. I completed three years of formal training in harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration, and I have since built a career scoring documentary films and animation. I have contributed to IDFA editions with a range of projects and collaborations with various directors. Most notably, I composed the score for In the Shadow of the Cypress, the short animated film that won the Oscar Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2025. I have scored numerous documentaries including Hawa, A Fox Under a Pink Moon, Subtotals, Sunless Shadows, Finding Farideh, Starless Dreams, Forbidden Strings (IDFA Luminous section), Pale Blue, Shouting at the Wind, A House for You, Hamja, and others. I enjoy blending traditional Iranian musical textures with contemporary cinematic language to help stories resonate through music.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Afshin Azizi. I’m a multidisciplinary musician and composer from Iran. I began my musical education at seven, starting with the Setar and later expanding to Flamenco guitar, Tar, and piano. I completed three years of formal training in harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration, and I have since built a career scoring documentary films and animation. I have contributed to IDFA editions with a range of projects and collaborations with various directors.

Most notably, I composed the score for In the Shadow of the Cypress, the short animated film that won the Oscar Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2025. I have scored numerous documentaries including Hawa, A Fox Under a Pink Moon, Subtotals, Sunless Shadows, Finding Farideh, Starless Dreams, Forbidden Strings (IDFA Luminous section), Pale Blue, Shouting at the Wind, A House for You, Hamja, and others. I enjoy blending traditional Iranian musical textures with contemporary cinematic language to help stories resonate through music.

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Language

English
Advanced
Dutch
Beginner
German
Beginner

Work Experience

Composer at Own Recording Studio
January 1, 2005 - June 7, 2024
Composed music for movies and documentaries, intion, documentary, motion pictures, and TV series. Participated in major international festivals, including IDFA and Cinema Verite. Achieved multiple awards for original scores and compositions.cluding award-winning films such as "Starless Dreams," "Finding Farideh," and "A House for You." Established and managed own recording studio while producing music scores for a wide range of productions. Collaborated with recognized directors and artists, including Mohammad Motamedi, to create original soundtracks for anima
Performance Musician at Various Concerts and Music Groups
January 1, 1996 - December 31, 2018
Performed Iranian traditional music and Flamenco guitar at various venues including cultural halls and concert halls in France and Iran. Collaborated with groups such as Sayeh Group and artists like Shadi Fathi and Mandana Karimi. Delivered live performances at venues like Rene in France, Arasbaran concert hall, Farabi concert hall, and Jewish Association of Iran. Active in the music performance scene since childhood, showcasing traditional and fusion music styles.
Composer at Independent
January 1, 2005 - June 14, 2024
Composed music for films, animations, documentaries, and TV series, including Oscar-winning short-animated film "In the Shadow of the Cypress" and award-winning documentaries such as Starless Dreams and Finding Farideh. Established and operated a personal recording studio. Collaborated with renowned artists such as Mohammad Motamedi and contributed official songs to major events like the 2018 Asian Cooperation Dialogue.
Performer (Iranian Traditional Music and Flamenco Guitar) at Various Concerts and Groups
January 1, 1996 - December 31, 2018
Performed Iranian traditional music and Flamenco guitar at various venues, including concert halls and international performances in France. Collaborated with multiple artists and groups, delivering authentic musical experiences.
Composer at Self-Employed
January 1, 2005 - June 15, 2024
Composed soundtracks and scores for a variety of projects including documentaries, animation films, motion pictures, and TV series. Notable works include scoring the Oscar-winning short-animated film "In the Shadow of the Cypress" (2025), and multiple documentaries featured at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). Established and managed own recording studio. Collaborated with artists such as Mohammad Motamedi and participated in music festivals including the Flamenco Guitar Festival organized by the Spanish Embassy. Also performed live traditional and Flamenco music internationally.

Education

High School Diploma at Raja High School
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2004
High School Diploma at Raja High School
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2004
High School Diploma at Raja High School
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2004

Qualifications

International Documentary Association 2025 IDA Award Best Original Score for Writing Hawa
April 15, 2026 - April 15, 2026
Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology 2024 Best Score in a Short Animation
April 15, 2026 - April 15, 2026
Three years of formal training in harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration
January 11, 2030 - April 15, 2026
Formal training in harmony, counterpoint, and orchestration
January 11, 2030 - April 17, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Other, Education
    paper A Fox Under A Pink Moon

    This documentary won the best prize of the IDFA documentary film festival 2025.

    paper In the shadow of the cypress

    In the Shadow of the Cypress is a 2023 Iranian animated short film directed by Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani, It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards.