This historic photograph captures the backstage of a film likely created around 1279 SH (1900–1901 CE). The glass negative (18 × 13 cm) is preserved in the Golestan Palace Archives and is attributed to Mirza Ebrahim Khan Akkasbashi, one of Iran’s first official court photographers.
During this period, Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar reigned over Iran (1896–1907). Despite political challenges, his era was marked by efforts toward modernization, including the introduction of photography and early cinematic experiments at the court. This artifact provides a rare glimpse into the technical preparations and behind-the-scenes activities of filmmaking in Iran at the turn of the 20th century.
This artifact offers a unique window into the early history of cinema in Iran, showing the technical preparations, equipment, and practices behind filmmaking at the turn of the 20th century.