Babak Karimi (Persian: بابک کریمی‎, born 1960) is an Iranian-Italian film actor and editor.

It is more than 40 years that Babak Karimi has settled in Italy. He is the son of Nosrat Karimi an Iranian actor, director and playwright.

Babak Karimi attended Istituto Rossellini High School in Rome and studied to be a film camera operator and later took a masters course in photography at C.I.A.C. (Centro Italiano Addestramento Cinematografico). He was offered a position to teach editing at the International Academy of Visual Arts and Sciences in L’aquila.

In 2004, he cooperated in producing the three episodes feature film ‘Tickets’ directed by Ermanno Olmi, Abbas Kiarostami and Ken Loach, working above all on Kiarostami’s episode in which as well as being a co-producer, he worked as assistant director, second cameraman, actor and editor.

From 2004 to 2007 he has been a consultant for the Venice Film Festival particularly in selecting Iranian films for the festival.

His performance in ‘Tickets’ provided the ground for playing the role of examining magistrate in ‘Nader and Simin: A Separation’ directed by the celebrated Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi. Through that Karimi became more acquainted with the mainstream Iranian cinema.

Babak Karimi was part of the Italy Prospects Jury at the at the 7th Rome Film Festival in 2012.

Radio
2002: Radio Host of Hollywood Party (Rai 3)

Filmography (incomplete)
– 2001: Ra’ye makhfi‎ (Secret Ballot) (directed by Babak Payami, edited by Babak Karimi)
– 2005: Tickets (directed by Ermanno Olmi, Abbas Kiarostami & Ken Loach)
– 2007: Due Insoliti Ospiti (directed by Francesco Falaschi) (short)
– 2011: A Separation
– 2013: The Past
– 2013: Fish & Cat

Awards
Silver Bear (Best Actor): 61st Berlin International Film Festival (2011)

Further reading: Full interview with Babak Karimi on the film ‘Nader and Simin, a separation’ in Payvand News of Iran

Sources: Wikipedia, Payvand News of Iran, Babak Karimi in RB Casting