Bio

Goga Bayat started her work in film productions in 1987, in Iran. There were only two women among 40 men, who’d chosen still photography as their profession. She began her career at a time when women had to stand up and fight for their right to social standing. Now, as a freelance photographer she has worked on over 25 films, series, short films and plays. Some of them received many international awards. “The circle”, directed by Jaffar Panahi, won The Golden Lion award from the Venice International Film Festival in 2002 that led solo exhibition on Goga’s stills in Parma Theatre Gallery in Parma, Italy, 2003. “Hidden half” directed by Tahmineh Milani was nominated in 2001 in human rights category on The Political Film Society, (USA). The script of the film was published in a book based on goga’s photographs.

Goga’s fascinations with what goes on “In the back of people’s minds” led to two solo exhibitions in Tehran. The first was based on children’s doodling on the wooden school desks of Iran and the second was on the love memos Iranian people inscribe on paper currency. These exhibitions brought her great reviews.

Goga’s educational background in photography and graphic design has given her the chance not only to run her own portrait studio in Tehran but also to design film poster, CD cover and book cover.

Goga is one of the founders of the Iranian Society of Still Photographers and has been an active member since 1997. She has been a member of IATSE since 2003.

As a new Canadian resident Goga is continuing her work in film production and also building her own portrait studio in Vancouver.