Nima Asgari (born 1982) is an Iranian director, cinematographer, and researcher specializing in environmental and wildlife documentaries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Engineering with a focus on Environmental Science and is also a graduate of the Iranian Youth Cinema Society. He began his filmmaking career in the mid-2000s and, over the years, became one of the notable figures in wildlife documentary filmmaking in Iran by focusing on endangered species and fragile ecosystems across the country.
As a director and cinematographer, Nima Asgari has created more than forty short and feature-length documentaries and has collaborated widely on wildlife-focused productions. He is a member of the Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association and serves on the board of directors of the Wildlife Pictures Institute, where he also works as the institute’s artistic director.
Among his works, films such as Ranger and Leopard, Peyman (The Ranger), Houbara, Realm, Dog Eater, Dream of Hope, the series Leopard Operations, Wild Moments of Iran, and The Return of the Persian Onager hold a special place. His role as cinematographer in documentaries such as In Search of the Persian Leopard, Tanhavash, In the Realm of the Spider-tailed Viper, In the Vortex, Life in the Desert, and Dream of Hope also forms an important part of his professional path.
Major Awards and Honors
- Grand Prix – Matsalu Nature Film Festival, Estonia (2022)
- Best Director for Houbara – Matsalu Nature Film Festival, Estonia (2022)
- Best People and Nature Film for Ranger and Leopard – Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, USA (2017)
- Best Independent Production for Ranger and Leopard – Green Screen Film Festival, Germany (2018)
- Best Environmental Conservation Film for Ranger and Leopard – Gran Paradiso Film Festival, Italy (2018)
- Jury Award for Houbara – Sondrio Film Festival, Italy (2022)
- Best Bird Section Film for Houbara – Ménigoute Ornithological Film Festival, France (2022)
- Best Environment and Conservation Film for Houbara – Vaasa Wildlife Festival, Finland (2022)
- Best Director – Cinema Verite Iranian Documentary Film Festival (2017)
- Best Director of Documentary – Jam-e-Jam Television Festival, Iran (2018)
- Best Short Film for Dog Eater – Ankara International Wildlife Film Festival (2025)
- Member of the International Jury – Matsalu Nature Film Festival, Estonia (2023)
