Ali Abbasi (, born 1981) is an Iranian-Swedish-Danish filmmaker. He is known for his films Shelley (2016), Border (2018), Holy Spider (2022), and The Apprentice (2024). Abbasi also directed the last two episodes of the first season of the series The Last of Us. He has received various accolades, including an Un Certain Regard award, four Robert Awards, and a German Film Award, in addition to nominations for seven European Film Awards, a Goya Award, and two Guldbagge Awards. His films have also been nominated for multiple Academy Awards.
Early life Abbasi attended Tehran Polytechnic until 2002, when he emigrated to Sweden to study architecture at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. After earning his bachelor of arts in 2007, he enrolled at the National Film School of Denmark, earning a degree in 2011 with the short film M for Markus.
Career 2018: Border In 2018, Abbasi premiered his second film, Border. It won the Un Certain Regard award at the Cannes Film Festival, was selected as the Swedish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. Although the film didn't get a nomination in that category, it earned a nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
2022: Holy Spider His third feature film, Holy Spider, came out in 2022 and was a Persian-language co-production between Sweden, Denmark, France, and Germany. Based on the true story of Saeed Hanaei, a serial killer who targeted sex workers and killed sixteen women from 2000 to 2001 in Mashhad, Iran, the film depicts a fictional female journalist investigating a serial killer.
The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on 22 May 2022. Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who starred in the film, won the festival's Best Actress Award. The film was selected as the Danish entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, and made the December shortlist.
2024: The Apprentice Abbasi's latest film, The Apprentice, a portrait of a young Donald Trump, premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film was nominated for two Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Sebastian Stan and Best Supporting Actor for Jeremy Strong.
Personal life Abbasi lives in Copenhagen and continues to hold an Iranian passport.
Groping allegation In February 2025, Abbasi was accused of groping an unnamed actor at a Golden Globes after-party hosted by Creative Artists Agency (CAA). No named witnesses publicly came forward about the alleged incident, however. Abbasi himself released a statement clarifying his account of what occurred. Initial reports suggested that Abbasi was dropped by his own representatives at CAA as well as by his management and legal teams, due to the incident, but Abbasi clarified in his statement that he himself had ended those relationships in "a long-term career decision".
Filmography
Film Year Title Director Writer Notes 2008Officer Relaxing After DutyShort film2010In the Darkness Is the LightShort film2011M for MarkusShort film, also editor2016Shelley2018Border2022Holy SpiderAlso co-producer2024 The Apprentice
Television Year Title Episode(s) Director Writer Notes 2023The Last of Us"When We Are in Need", "Look for the Light"2 episodes
Critical reception Year Title Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic 2016Shelley92%622018Border97%752022Holy Spider84%662023The Last of Us"When We Are in Need"96%84"Look for the Light"89%2024The Apprentice83%64
Awards and nominations + Award Year Category Nominated Work Result Bodil Awards2017Best Danish FilmShelley2019Best Non-American FilmBorder2023Best Danish FilmHoly SpiderBest ScreenplayCannes Film Festival2018Un Certain RegardBorder2022Palme d'OrHoly Spider2024Palme d'OrThe ApprenticeChicago International Film Festival2018Gold HugoBorderCork International Film Festival2018Spirit of the Festival AwardBorderCinema for Peace awards2025Political Film of the YearThe ApprenticeDenver International Film Festival2018Krzysztof Kieslowski AwardBorderEuropean Film Awards2018Best FilmBorderBest ScreenwriterBest Director2019Lux Award2022Best FilmHoly SpiderBest ScreenwriterBest DirectorFantastic Fest2022Best DirectorHoly SpiderGerman Film Award2023Best DirectorHoly SpiderBest Film in BronzeGoya Awards2020Best European FilmBorderGuldbagge Awards2019Best DirectorBorderBest ScreenplayJerusalem Film Festival2018Best International Film – Honorable MentionBorder2022Best International FilmHoly SpiderLos Angeles Film Festival2018Best World Fiction FilmBorderMunich Film Festival2018CineVision AwardBorderNorwegian International Film Festival2018Film Critics AwardBorderOslo Films from the South Festival2022Silver Mirror AwardHoly SpiderPalm Springs International Film Festival2019Directors to WatchBorderBest Foreign Language FilmRobert Awards2017Best Original ScreenplayShelley2019Best Non-American Film2023Best Danish FilmHoly SpiderBest DirectorBest Original ScreenplaySan Sebastián Horror and Fantasy Film Festival2018Blogos de Oro for Best FeatureBorderSeville European Film Festival2022Golden GiraldilloHoly SpiderStockholm Film Festival2022Bronze HorseHoly SpiderTallinn Black Nights Film Festival2022DDA Spotlight AwardHoly SpiderTransilvania International Film Festival2016Transilvania TrophyShelleyValladolid International Film Festival2018Golden SpikeBorder
Directed Academy Award performancesUnder Abbasi's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations for their performances in their respective roles. YearPerformerFilmResultAcademy Award for Best Actor2024Sebastian StanThe ApprenticeAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor2024Jeremy StrongThe Apprentice
References
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