Superstar lends voice to Iran animation

‘Superstar’ Shahab Hosseini has lent his voice to the storyteller in the new season of the popular Iranian animated series, ‘Shekarestan’.  

Palme d’Or winning star has replaced late veteran actor Morteza Ahamdi who appeared in more than 30 films and also voiced many animation characters over his 65-year career.

Co-directed by Babak Nazari and Saeed Zameni, the new season is being produced at Tehran’s Saba Art and Cultural Institute.

Speaking to local media, producer Masoud Safavi said that the new season is made of 100 episodes, 13 of which will be preparing for broadcast on IRIB Channel 2 during the Nowruz holiday in March.  

‘Shekarestan’ is an Iranian animation presenting Persian proverbs and folk tales with a modern view. Each episode of the animation features a separate story.

Many international festivals showed episodes of Shekarestan, including Changui Chinese Film Festival, Giffoni Film Festival of Italy, International Children's Film Festival of India, and Silk Road Film Festival of Ireland.

Hosseini is mostly famous for his role in Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar-winning ‘The Salesman’, which brought him the Palme d’Or for best actor at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.

In 2009, his outstanding performance in 'Superstar' won him a Crystal Simorgh from the Fajr International Film Festival. 

In 2011, he won the prestigious Silver Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for his memorable role in 'A Separation'. The role also earned him a nomination for the Chlotrudis Award at the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film.

In 2013, he experienced directing with 'The Resident of the Middle Floor' and later he directed 'Come with Me' in 2015.

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