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Noora Niasari

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  • Alumni Award recipients
    • 2024
      • arrow_forward Adjunct Associate Professor Patricia Bradd
      • arrow_forward David Hobson
      • arrow_forward Dr Michael Camit
      • arrow_forward Jessica Washington
      • arrow_forward Kate Cole OAM
      • arrow_forward Noora Niasari
      • arrow_forward Peter O’Brien
      • arrow_forward Pham Thi Bich Ngoc
      • arrow_forward Shaun Christie-David
      • arrow_forward Uncle Ken Canning
      • arrow_forward Warren Sharpe OAM
    • 2023
      • arrow_forward Antoinette Lattouf | Faculty Award of Excellence: Arts and Social Sciences
      • arrow_forward Ben Newsome | Faculty of Science
      • arrow_forward Associate Professor Bradley Moggridge | Indigenous Australian Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Catherine Hinwood | UTS Faculty of Law
      • arrow_forward Dr. Shannon Lin, Faculty Award of Excellence: Health
      • arrow_forward Julie McCrossin | Community Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Nawid Cina
      • arrow_forward Pat Cummins | Faculty Award of Excellence: UTS Business School
      • arrow_forward Professor Nurul Barizah | Faculty Of Law
      • arrow_forward Shaun Carter | Design, Architecture and Building award
      • arrow_forward Thomas Da Jose | UTS Faculty of Engineering
    • 2022
      • arrow_forward Aisha Jalil | UTS International Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Angelique Wan | UTS Young Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Belinda Bentley | UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Clarence Slockee | UTS Indigenous Australian Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Dr Sabera Turkmani | UTS Health Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Jaime Cheuk I UTS Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Nicky Sparshott | UTS Business School Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Professor Jack Beetson | UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Rebecca Dominguez | UTS Law Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Sumeet Tappoo | UTS Community Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Tania Notaras | UTS Science Alumni Award
    • 2021
      • arrow_forward Alana Valentine | Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Amani Haydar | UTS Law Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward David Brennan | UTS Young Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Don Koch | UTS Business Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Dr Rolanda Lam | UTS International Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Dr Sarah Benson PSM | UTS Science Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward El Gibbs | Community Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Emma Foster-Geering | UTS Design, Architecture and Building Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Karen Mundine | UTS Indigenous Australian Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Larry Diamond | UTS Engineering and Information Technology Alumni Award
      • arrow_forward Melanie Briggs | UTS Health Alumni Award
    • 2020
      • arrow_forward Angelo Candalepas
      • arrow_forward Associate Professor Leanne (Lulu) Zalapa
      • arrow_forward Dominic Woolrych
      • arrow_forward Dr Paul Beinat
      • arrow_forward Emma Watkins
      • arrow_forward Geoffrey McNamara AM
      • arrow_forward George Savvides AM
      • arrow_forward Madhavi Shankar
      • arrow_forward Mayrah Sonter
      • arrow_forward Phillipa McDermott
      • arrow_forward Professor Darren Martin
    • arrow_forward 2019
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Young woman in black and white, looking at the camera with her dark hair tied back. She is wearing an off  the shoulder white top.

Bachelor of Design in Architecture, 2010

Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building

Born in Iran and raised in Australia, Noora Niasari’s childhood not only shaped the person she is today – it’s become a powerful platform. Now a film writer and director, Noora uses her work to highlight under-represented stories. 

Her debut feature film ‘Shayda’, executive produced by Australian actor Cate Blanchett, has left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide. Drawing from personal experience, the film explores the challenges an Iranian mother faces as she seeks refuge from domestic violence. It sheds light on the Iranian diaspora experience and the struggles of Iranian women. Since its release, ‘Shayda’ has garnered international critical acclaim, including winning the Audience Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and being selected as Australia’s submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars.

It was during her time as a Design in Architecture undergraduate at UTS that Noora re-discovered her passion for cinema, encouraged by then mentor, Richard Goodwin, to become a storyteller. The seed was first planted at age 7 when her mother introduced her to the late Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s ‘Where is the Friend’s House?’. At the time, Noora would never have guessed that less than 20 years later, Kiarostami himself would mentor her in a filmmaking workshop in Barcelona. A dream come true for Noora, this mentorship and her background in architecture have influenced her visual style and narrative approach. 

With an emphasis on curiosity and personal identity, Noora’s filmmaking style is notable for its emotional depth and authenticity. Addressing the sensitive issue of domestic violence, ‘Shayda’ resonates with survivors and advocates across countries and cultures. The film has sparked important conversations about domestic abuse and the need for support resources.

Noora continues to focus on stories that shine a light on Iranian women, currently working on an adaptation of Mahsa Rahmani Noble’s novel ‘Raya’. Her ongoing work is a powerful vessel for representation and cultural understanding in cinema.

It’s not about the piece of paper but what you learn about yourself along the way. Stay curious and open to the world. And never let rejection stop you from pursuing your dreams.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

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