At the age of 17, after directing two video productions Makhmalbaf went on to direct her first feature film, "La Pomme" ("The Apple)". She presented "La Pomme" at Cannes Film Festival. In an interview at the London Film Festival in 1998, Samira Makhmalbaf stated that she felt that "The Apple" owed its existence to the new circumstances and changed atmosphere that prevailed in Iran as a result of the Khatami presidency. "The Apple" was invited to more than 100 international film festivals in a period of two years, while going to the screen in more than 30 countries. In 2000 she was a member of the jury at the 22nd Moscow International Film Festival.