Mahnaz Mohammadi (born 1 January 1975, Tehran) is an Iranian filmmaker and women's rights activist. She wrote and directed her first film in 2003, "Women Without Shadows" , depicting the lives of homeless and abandoned women in a state-run shelter, has been shown and awarded in several international film festivals. Mahnaz wrote, directed and produced various documentaries, including "Travelogue" another award-winning film that was shown in 2010 at the event "A Day in Tehran" created by the Cinematheque in Paris. She has been also active in the women's movement. She was awarded the freedom of speech awards, George 2015, from Austria. Film career Women Without Shadows (2003) Mahnaz Mohammadi wrote and directed her first film in 2003, "Women Without Shadows" produced by Amir Samavati. This film, depicting the lives of homeless and abandoned women in a state-run shelter, has been shown and awarded in several international film festivals. Travelogue (2008) She wrote, directed and produced herself various documentaries, including "Travelogue" another award-winning film. Shot in the train between Tehran and Ankara, the director met and questioned passengers about the reasons that lead them to leave their country. This film was shown in 2010 at the event "A Day in Tehran" created by the Cinematheque in Paris, with Mohammadi in attendance. Since the publishing of this film, Iranian authorities have refused her to leave the country, including after she was invited to the Cannes film festival for the film "Wedding Ephemerals" directed by Reza Serkanian, in which she plays the main character. We Are Half the Iran's Population (2009) Mahnaz Mohammadi has also contributed to famous filmmaker Rakhshan Bani-Etemad's documentary "We Are Half the Iran's Population" portraying the demands of Iranian women in the disputed presidential elections of 2009, which gave Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term in office. In 2011 the film was screened at the Viennese film festival "This Human World." Son-Mother (2019) Mahnaz Directed her first fiction feature film “Son-Mother” in 2019 that was premiered in the 44th Toronto international film festival. The film has been awarded The Amnesty award of Febio Fest film Festival in Prague, The Audience award of Istanbul Film Festival and Special jury award of Rome Film Fest 2020. Son-Mother has attended numerous international film festivals such as Zurich Film Festival, Alice Nella Citta in Italy, CPH:PIX in Copenhagen, AFI FEST Los Angeles, International Film Festival of India in Goa, Rio de Janeiro International Film