Russia cancels Iran animation screening

Russia has cancelled the screening program of Iranian animation ‘The Last Fiction’ due to coronavirus outbreak.

The animation which has gone on public screens in several countries around the globe was supposed to be screened in Russian movie theaters from March 26.

However, some VOD services will screen the animation online in the Commonwealth of Independent States from April 28.

Written and directed by Ashkan Rahgozar, the animated film tells the story of an evil figure in Iranian mythology, Zahhak.

It is a free adaptation of a story from Iran’s classic literature.

Based on classic Persian literature — “The Shahnameh,” or “The Book of Kings,” by the poet Ferdowsi — the 100-minute animated ‘The Last Fiction’ follows the twin stories of upstart ruler Zahak, who makes a treacherous rise to the throne in Jamkard (ancient Persia), and of young hero Afaridoun, who is fated to save the kingdom’s people from the darkness.

Zahak, who made a Faustian pact to seize the throne, is now haunted by his evil deeds, and his recent nightmares prophesy that a young man he wronged in the past will rise up against him.

However, Afaridoun must first conquer his own inner demons before he can battle Zahak’s dark forces and restore peace to the kingdom.

ifilm English TV has published an exclusive report on ‘The Last Fiction’. Click here to watch the report.

ifilm has interviewed the editor Jinous Pedram, production manager Arman Rahgozar, voice actors Akbar Zanjanpour and Zahir Yari, the director, as well as some cinemagoers.

In addition to Zanjanpour and Yari, popular Iranian actors Hamed Behdad, Parviz Parastouee, Majid Mozaffari, and Ashkan Khatibi are among the animation voice actors.

The list goes on with Baran Kosari, Hassan Pourshirazi, Shaqayeq Farahani, Melika Sharifinia, Farrokh Nemati, and Bita Farrahi.

The film won recognition and was presented as one of the best ongoing projects at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.

It was also invited to the Marché du Film (lit. Film Market), which is the business counterpart of the Cannes Film Festival and one of the largest film markets in the world.

‘The Last Fiction’ has gone on screen at several global events, including the 12th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Australia, the 37th Fajr Film Festival in Iran, the VOID International Animation Film Festival in Denmark, and the 11th Tehran International Animation Festival in Iran.

The animation has so far won awards such as Best Animated Feature Film award at the 3rd AJAYU International Animation Festival held in Peru, Best Animated Feature Film award at the 2019 San Diego International Kids' Film Festival in the US, best music award at the 2018 Bucheon International Animation Festival in South Korea, best animation award at the 3rd Southern Cone International Film Festival in Chile, and Best Feature Animation award at the 6th Epic Animation Comics Games festival in the US.

Iran millennium-old national epic ‘The Last Fiction’ has been introduced as one of the qualified films to vie for the Best Picture category at the 92nd Academy Awards in the US.

MG/AG