Keyvan Tabatabaie-Samimi was born in 1973 in Tehran. After studying dramatic literature and film at the University of Tehran, he went to Germany to continue his studies in cinema. A member of the Association of Documentary Film Directors of Iran, Tabatabaie-Samimi’s great interest in the archeology and cultural heritage of Iran led him to specialize in archeological documentaries. Ganj Darreh is his latest work in collaboration with the Center for the Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema. In a previous film produced with the Center, In Depth, Tabatabaie-Samimi focused on a Paleolithic site in the deserts south of Semnan. He has also directed films introducing the national museums of Iran.

His movie "Ganj Dareh" is selected for screening in Foça Film Days 2021