In 2004, Daneshmand produced and acted in 20 Fingers, a feature film, directed and acted by Mania Akbari.[4] In seven scenes shot by Touraj Aslani with a DV camera in a variety of long takes, the director and producer play a couple or potentially several couples who debate and argue about their relationship.[4] The film tackles taboo subjects, including homosexuality and divorce.[4] It premiered at the 61st Venice International Film Festival in 2004, where it won the Best Digital Film, Venezia Digitale.[5]
In 2011, Daneshmand acted in a short film Two & Two as a male teacher, which was directed by Babak Anvari, co-produced by Kit Fraser, and written by Babak Anvari and Gavin Cullen.[10] The 8-minute film follows Daneshmand's character, a male teacher, as he introduces the statement 2 + 2 = 5 to his young pupils. In 2011, at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, BAFTA, it was nominated for Best Short Film.[11][12]
In 2016, Daneshmand plays the role of university director in Under the Shadow, a 2016 Persian-language psychological horror film directed by Babak Anvari. A mother and daughter had terrifying supernatural encounters in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s.[13] The film's world debut took place at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016. In 2017, it was awarded with the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut.[14]
In 2021, Daneshmand wrote and directed a Persian-language web series, The Bahramis.[15]
In 2022, Daneshmand was cast as a AliReza Jamshidpour, one of the leading characters in Maryam Keshavarz's film The Persian Version.[16] The film was premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in January 2023 as part of the U.S. Dramatic competition.[17] It took home the Waldo for Best Screenplay as well as the Audience Award.[18][19]
Daneshmand, parallel with his acting, is engaged with his fine art practice. His artwork has been exhibited and reviewed internationally at art galleries, exhibitions, and publications.[20][2]
In 1996, Daneshmand founded and launched The Leonard, an award winning boutique hotel in central London. The hotel was popular with musicians and film people.[21]William Orbit made various recordings there including works involving U2, Madonna, Pink.[22][23] In 2003, Daneshmand sold his family interest in the business, to focus entirely on his art and acting.[24]
In 2020, continuing with his fine art practice and interest in the concept of repetition, he commenced his Damavand series; a collection of over 150 works, an exploration on the theme of repetition and difference.[2]
In 2024, Daneshmand performed as the voice character of King Darius, in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown video game by Ubisoft.[25]
Selected filmography
Film
List of film appearances, with year, title, and role shown
2021: Award of Merit Best Web Series and Award of Excellence Lead Actor at the IndieFEST Film Awards, for The Bahramis, directed by Daneshmand[citation needed]
2021: Best Actor at the BUEIFF Web Series Film Festival, for The Bahramis[citation needed]
