Biography

Stephen was born in Tehran, Iran where he completed his national school with a high-school diploma in Economy. Having admitted by one of the capital's most prestigious language and literature universities, he commenced his B.A. degree course in Persian language and literature & Psychology. Stephen's interest in educational psychology as well as English language and literature, lead him to study an M.Ed. degree course in Psychology at Intercollege- the International University College- in Larnaca, Cyprus. He went on to obtain his PhD. in Educational Psychology and Philosophy. Stephen has been lecturing, advising and teaching English language and psychology at universities, colleges and education centers across Asia and Europe. He is a published author whose first novel, 'The Golden Autumn' was published in Charleston, SC. USA by Amazon.com on March 4th, 2013. His novel has been acknowledged by Her Majesty, The Queen Elizabeth II and Buckingham Palace, UK. He is currently completing his second novel, 'Overlaw- Awakening' the first of a two-series novel. Stephen has an extensive background in the martial art of Judo. In 1983, at the age of 13, he began learning and practicing Judo at the National Judo Training Center, at Amjadieyeh National Stadium in Tehran, Iran under Sensei Hamid Haydari. Stephen is a 7th Dan black-belt (Honorary) in Judo, and a 2nd Dan black belt (IJA-The Irish Judo Association). He is the founder of Nin-Judo, -a new super-charged version of Judo-, and the President of Nin-Judo Federation of Ireland. He holds a 9th Dan black belt in Nin-Judo. He is currently the second place holder of All Ireland Judo Championship and a member of the National Irish Judo Masters squad. Stephen became involved in many aspects of filmmaking since 1998 when he decided to combine his great interest of story-telling and martial arts expertise. In 1999 he was referred to, as the Ireland's answer to Bruce Lee, by 'Sunday Independent', a renowned Irish national newspaper. He has featured in over 50 newspapers across Ireland, Norway, Russia, China, France, Latvia and many other countries. In 2006 and 2007, Stephen produced, directed, edited, wrote and acted in eleven short documentaries leading to completion of his first full-feature documentary film, 'Dracula's Stoker' which participated and screened at Cannes Film Festival, France in 2009. His second documentary, 'Dracula and Stoker' was completed in 2012 and has been selected for the final competition selection of IAFF, -Iranian-American Film Festival-, to be held in Washington, USA in the summer 2014. He is a member of Apple Mac Pro and FCP X editors Community in the US. Stephen is in pre-production of two feature films, 'Hooper & Cooper, an action-comedy film and 'Overlaw' a thriller-action-concept film.
- IMDb mini biography by: Stephen Salvati