"Born on February 15, 1980, in Tehran, Samira Makhmalbaf played The Cyclist at the age of seven, directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, her father. At 14 she finished High School and joined the Makhmalbaf Film House to study cinema for 5 years. At the age of 17, after directing two video productions, she went on to direct The Apple. One year later, the 18-year-old, went on to become the youngest director in the world participating in the official section of the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. The Apple has been invited to more than 100 international film festivals in a period of two years, while going to the screen in more than 30 countries. In 1999, Samira made her second feature film by the title The Blackboard and for the second time participated in the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival as the youngest director in the world, in 2000.