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Invitation to the Defense of Taha Ghanimi Fard

Defense
Art Theory and Cultural Studies
Schillerplatz 3, 1010 Wien, Room 210

The Institute for Art Theory and Cultural Studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna kindly invites you to the defense of  Taha Ghanimi Fard's dissertation project "An Analysis of the Development of Animation in Iran".

The Examination Panel is made up of: Univ.-Prof. PhD. M.A. Alena Williams (chair), Prof. Dr. Sabeth Buchmann (supervisor 1), Assist. Prof. Dr. Fatemeh Hosseini-Shakib (supervisor 2, Tehran Art University), Univ. Prof. Dr. Christine Lang (external appraiser, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna).

The defense will take place in German at room 210 at Schillerplatz 3, 1010 Wien.

Abstract

My dissertation examines the development of animation in Iran before and after 1979 Is-lamic Revelation. Before 1979, there was significant creative and artistic work, but no strong animation industry. After 1979, animation became more organized and technologically developed, particularly through studios and television productions. Based on documents, archives, and interviews, my research shows how art, politics, and economics shaped the development of Iranian animation. It also identifies challenges related to copyright, private investment, skilled professionals and success in obtaining an Oscar prize in 2025.

Short biography

Taha Ghanimi Fard was born on 17 January 1989 in Tehran, Iran. He was born with a 90% hearing loss and now uses two cochlear implants. In 2006, he received his diploma in Animation and Film from the Radio and Television School in Tehran. In 2009, he completed an associate degree in Animation at the Radio and Television Uni-versity in Tehran. In July 2015, he received his Master's degree in Fine Art from the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Austria. Since October 2015, he has been pursuing a doctoral degree. 
He has created numerous animation, documentary, and short films, including documen-taries on the history of Iranian animation: "Five Thousand Years Movement", and a docu-mentary film: "Gol-e Bagh-e Ferdows".
His recent animated film "On the Way in Vienna" has been selected and recognized at several international film festivals, including receiving the Best Animation award at the To-ronto Deaf Film Festival in 2025.
In 2019, he also completed an internship at OKTO TV, where he worked on a documentary series about life in Vienna. From 2023 to 2025, he worked as a teacher at a school for deaf students in Vienna, teaching deaf and autistic children.