Pirooz Kalayeh

Pirooz Kalayeh is an Assistant Professor of Screenwriting and Film and Media Production at the University of Rochester. He holds a PhD in Media and Communication from The European Graduate School, focusing on digital media and Iranian cinema hybrids. His work spans seven feature films across genres including documentary, experimental, and narrative, addressing themes like trauma, identity, and social justice.

Key research interests include Hybrid Cinema, Iranian Cinema, and Multicultural Programming. His films have garnered acclaim at festivals globally, including the New York Independent Cinema Awards and Galway Film Fleadh. Notable works include SOMETIMES I DREAM IN FARSI (2021), exploring racial trauma through Gestalt Therapy, and 100 FILMS (2021), a pandemic-era project examining human connectivity.

Teaching focuses on screenwriting, video art, and Korean cinema. Awards include the Zora Neale Hurston Award (2002) and a 2023 honor from the Docs Without Borders Festival. His upcoming project MY ROOM IN TEHRAN IS CALLED AMERICA explores Iranian-American migration narratives.