Sina Ataeian Dena, born in 1983 in Ahvaz, Iran, shot his first animated short films and video clips for theater productions during his university studies, has made video installations, worked as a visual effects supervisor, and developed material for computer games during his university studies. In 2009 his animated short Especially Music won the international competition of the Tehran International Short Film Festival. Dena has also worked as a writer and director on commercials, documentaries, and TV series. In 2015 he made his first full-length feature film, Paradise (original title: Ma dar Behesht), which he directed, co-produced and for which he wrote the script. Paradise made its world premiere in August 2015 in the main competition of the 68th Locarno Film Festival, was nominated for the Golden Leopard and was awarded the Ecumenical Jury Prize and Swatch Art Peace Hotel Award.
 
Sina Ataeian Dena was a resident at Tarabya Cultural Academy from June to September 2016 and from November 2016 to February 2017.