Navid Khonsari
Navid Khonsari | |
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File:Navid Khonsari.tif | |
Born | 1970 (age 53–54)[1] Montreal, Quebec, Canada[2] |
Residence | New York City, United States[2] |
Nationality | Iranian–Canadian[2] |
Citizenship | Iran, Canada |
Alma mater | University of British Columbia Vancouver Film School |
Occupation | CEO, Creator of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday |
Employer | Rockstar Games (2000–2006)[2] |
Organization | iNK Stories |
Home town | Tehran, Iran[3] |
Spouse(s) | Vassiliki Bessie Khonsari |
Children | 1 daughter[2] |
Website | Company Website |
Navid Khonsari (Persian: نوید خونساری) (born 1970) is an Iranian–Canadian video game, film and graphic novel creator, writer, director and producer.[2]
Early life
Khonsari was born in Montreal, Quebec, and was raised in his homeland Iran until 10.[2] He left for Canada after the 1979 Revolution with his family.[2] He graduated from the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Film School.
Career
Khonsari broke out onto the gaming scene with his work on Grand Theft Auto III and Max Payne when he joined Rockstar Games in 2000.[2] His first short film was titled "Arcade Angels", which focused on video game burnouts who robbed a video rental store in an attempt to open an arcade. He wrote and produced, The Contract, his first film with Billy Dee Williams.
During his 5 years at Rockstar Games Khonsari worked on Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Max Payne, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, Midnight Club II, Manhunt, Red Dead Revolver, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, The Warriors, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.[4]
In 2006, he left Rockstar Games and has since worked on a number of games including Alan Wake and Homefront.[2] He met his wife, Vassiliki Khonsari, while directing the award winning documentary Pindemonium. He co-founded iNK Stories and produced another documentary, "Pulling John", which premiered at South by Southwest. iNK Stories is presently completing a graphic novel titled Bedouin, and in 2016 launched 1979 Revolution: Black Friday.[5]
Works
- 1979 Revolution: Black Friday (2016)
- Homefront (2011)
- Alan Wake (2010)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006)
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005)
- The Warriors (2005)
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
- Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne - A Film Noir Love Story (2003)
- Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (2005)
- Red Dead Revolver (2004)
- Manhunt (2003)
- Midnight Club II (2003)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) (PlayStation 2)
- Grand Theft Auto III (2001) (PlayStation 2)
- Max Payne (2001) (Xbox)
References
External links
- Use dmy dates from January 2014
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with hCards
- Articles containing Persian-language text
- Living people
- Grand Theft Auto III
- Video game directors
- Max Payne
- Iranian video game developers
- 1970 births
- Writers from Montreal
- Writers from New York City
- People from Tehran
- University of British Columbia alumni
- Vancouver Film School alumni
- Iranian emigrants to Canada
- Canadian emigrants to the United States
- Canadian people of Iranian descent
- Video game writers
- Canadian documentary filmmakers
- Iranian documentary filmmakers
- Canadian graphic novelists
- Voice directors