Iranian animation to hit Russian silver screen in memory of Minab kids
Iranian animated feature ‘The Legend of Sepehr’ will be shown in Russian theaters from late August, with its Russian distributor preparing a special memorial event for schoolchildren killed in a US missile strike on a school in the southern Iranian city of Minab.
The film, produced by Mehdi Jafari Jozani and directed by Emad Rahmani and Mehrdad Mehrabi, is due to be played across Russia after completing its domestic run in Iran and moving into international distribution, Khabar Online reported on Tuesday.
According to the Russian distributor, the release has been scheduled for late August to coincide with the end of Russia’s extended school holidays, a timing intended to provide a better opportunity for families and children to attend cinemas.
The distributor said agreements, together with an amendment to the distribution contract, have secured the film’s theatrical and public exhibition rights for Russia and several countries in the region.
Alongside the commercial release, the distributor said it was coordinating a special event dedicated to solidarity with and remembrance of the Minab schoolchildren. Details of the event will be announced once arrangements have been finalized.
The planned memorial follows the US missile strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab on February 28, which killed at least 168 people, including 150 schoolboys and schoolgirls aged between seven and 12. The attack has been remembered in Iran and beyond as despicable crime.
The Legend of Sepehr is a family fantasy adventure centered on themes of family, responsibility, courage and standing up to darkness. It follows Sepehr, a courageous teenager, and his loyal companion Babo as they set out on a journey to save their family and homeland.
The Russian-language version has been registered in Russian film databases under the title “Легенда о Сепере”, while the film’s trailer has been released on the Kinopoisk VOD platform.