The official website of the festival headlined ‘Muhammad the Film Event of 2015 to Have World Premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival,’ announcing the premiering of Iranian renowned director’s latest work in cinema.
The latest film by renowned Iranian director Majid Majidi (3-time winner of the Grand Prix des Amériques) will open the festival and have its world premiere at the 39th Montreal World Film Festival, it was announced.
This 171-minute epic on the early years of the prophet of Islam is, with a budget of over $50 million, the most expensive film ever made in Iran, and has been in production for five years. “The Festival is very proud to be able to host the premiere of this important work, a film of very high artistry aimed at a very wide audience,” declared MWFF President Serge Losique. “There have been many movies dealing with key figures of the world’s great religions, including Jesus, Moses and Buddha, but this is only the second epic screen treatment of Islam’s founder.”
Majidi, who has been a frequent visitor to the MWFF, will accompany his film to Montreal along with principal members of his cast and crew.
By the order of Abraha, King of Habasha, one of his army commanders launches an attack on Mecca in order to destroy the Kaaba. He leads a well-equipped force comprised of thousands of soldiers, horses and elephants. As the army approaches Mecca, the elephants respond to Divine order by halting and refusing to continue. Millions of small birds then release a hail of stones onto Abraha’s forces and the army is annihilated. A month later, Muhammad is born. This film depicts the pagan age with all its tyranny and oppression as seen through the eyes of Muhammad from birth to the age of 13.
Starring many of Iran’s top actors, the film’s crew includes such renowned international craftsmen and artists as director of photography Vittorio Storaro (Oscars for Apocalypse Now, Reds and The Last Emperor), editor Roberto Perpignani (Padre Padrone, Il Postino, Caesar Must Die), special effects designer Scott E Anderson (Oscar winner for Babe), makeup designer Gianetto De Rossi (1900, Fellini’s Casanova, Dune) and Indian composer A. R. Rahman.
The 39th Montreal World Film Festival will be held August 27-September 7, 2015.