Abbas Kiarostami

Known for: Taste of Cherry (1997), Close-Up (1990)

Abbas Kiarostami developed a cinema of questions rather than answers, frequently blurring the boundary between documentary and fiction within a single film. His Koker Trilogy (1987–1994) follows the aftermath of an earthquake through perspectives of filmmakers and characters who may or may not be aware they are being filmed. Taste of Cherry (1997) won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and prompted debate about whether its deliberately ambiguous final sequence constituted a legitimate ending.