Nowruz screening films sell more than $12m

The films that have been screened during the Nowruz screening period in Iran have brought more than $12 million to the domestic box office.

The six feature films and an animated movie have been screened since a week before the beginning of the Iranian New Year (started March 21).

The films have grossed more than $12 million after almost 50 days and soon will come down from the silver screen.

Appealing to different tastes, the movies of this Nowruz period have covered a variety of genres, including action, thriller, comedy, drama, animation and adventure.

Top of the box office table so far is dedicated to 'Confiscation', the debut directorial work of actor Mehran Ahmadi, which has earned more than $3.1 million.

Set in the US and Armenia, ‘Confiscation’ is a comedy that follows the story of a SAVAK (Iran's security service before the Islamic Revolution) agent escaping to the US after the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

The feature-length comedy stars Reza Attaran, Houman Seyyedi, Babak Hamidiyan, Mehran Ahmadi and Mir-Taher Mazloumi.

Second best-seller of the period thus far is 'Lottery' directed by Mohammad-Hossein Mahdavian which has earned more than $2.8 million.

“Amir-Ali and Noushin want to get married but their families disagree. They decide to remain patient. They have dreams about winning the US Foreign Ministry lottery for Green Card,” a short synopsis of the flick reads.

Among the actors who star in the movie are Hamid Farrokhnejad, Mohammad-Javad Ezzati, Saed Soheili, Hadi Hejazifar, Nader Soleymani, Mehdi Zaminpardaz and Ziba Karam-Ali.

The third spot has gone to 'Damascus Time' directed by Ebrahim Hatamikia with some $2.7 million.

It focuses on security threats by terrorists when an Iranian plane, conveying humanitarian aid to Syria, is challenged in Damascus Airport.

Popular Iranian actors such as Babak Hamidiyan and Hadi Hejazifar as well as a number of actors from Syria and Lebanon star in the movie.

MG/MMF