Kurdish actor, director, playwright, and screenwriter from Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Shano Mato graduated from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sulaymaniyah in 2010 with distinction in directing and performing arts. Since then, he has worked extensively in theatre and cinema as a director, actor, and writer, participating in more than fifty artistic productions across stage and screen.

His artistic work combines theatrical performance with visual storytelling, with a particular interest in socially driven narratives and character-centered drama. Alongside his directing work, he also appeared as an actor in several theatre productions and independent films in the Kurdistan Region.

Among his notable theatre works are productions he wrote and directed himself, in addition to performances in plays such as Laki Teri Janta Ya and collaborations with several Kurdish theatre groups and filmmakers.

At the Kobani International Film Festival, Shano Mato served as a member of the Selection Committee during the festival’s third edition in 2022.