Ajyal Film Festival in Doha names ‘Sun Children’ best film

The Ajyal Film Festival in Qatar has named Iranian child labour movie ‘Sun Children’ by Majid Majidi the best film of its 2020 edition.

Running under the banner of “The show goes on” from November 18-23, the 8th edition of the youth-focused Ajyal Film Festival, presented by the Doha Film Institute (DFI), honored Majidi’s Venice prize winner ‘Sun Children’ with best film award.

The flick was also the opener of the Ajyal filmfest, which hosted a selection of 22 features and 58 shorts hailing from 46 countries, with a mix of socially-distanced physical and online screenings as well as a drive-in venue under the highest precautionary safety measures.

Majidi’s Tehran-set feature, which explores the topic of child labour through the adventures of four poor but resourceful boys, screened at a socially-distanced, red carpet event in Doha’s Katara theatre in the city’s cultural district.

The movie had its Iranian premiere at the 38th Fajr Film Festival in Tehran in February, garnering the Crystal Simorghs for best film, script and set design.

Numerous international events, including the 77th Venice Film Festival, have also screened the movie. The Italian festival honored the film’s child star Rouhollah Zamani with the Marcello Mastroianni Award.

Co-written by Nima Javidi and Majidi, the film features Ali Nasirian, Javad Ezzati, and Tanaz Tabatabai.

Strand Releasing, an independent U.S. film distributor, has recently purchased U.S. rights to Majidi’s drama.

Celluloid Dreams, a major French film production and distribution company, is also handling international sales for ‘Sun Children’, which is Iran’s submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.

MM/FM