Sun Children
a MAJID MAJIDI picture
Synopsis
In bustling Teheran, 12-year old Ali and his friends, a gang of mischievous street children, are hired by a dangerous criminal to pull off a heist of buried treasure hidden close to a school. To gain access, the kids must enroll and through education they begin to discover a different treasure: the one within themselves.
Trailer
Stills
Press
“A heart-rending story with unexpected depth of emotion… it has guts and heart and a grubby, street-smart charisma. It’s one of the finest films playing in this year’s Venice competition…” “Energetic and heartfelt, tipping towards tragedy, Sun Children crawls through the mud and emerges all the stronger. The quest is a red herring; the real treasure is the film.”
THE GUARDIAN ⭑⭑⭑⭑
“Quite the thrill ride, mixing a Dickensian, social-realist account of children in poverty in Tehran with a kinetic, far-fetched heist movie… a crowdpleaser…a thrilling portrait of youth… (with) scene- stealing Shamila Shirzad turning in the best performance of the film.”
INDIEWIRE
“Iranian director Majid Majidi has made some of the most visually stunning and emotionally stirring films in world cinema about the plight of under-privileged, exploited and abused young people, and Sun Children is one of his very best.”
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“I was reminded of “The Florida Project”, one of the best films about children of the 21st century… If one intention of “Sun Children” is to remind that all kids are created equal, deserving of education and encouragement, Majidi’s young ensemble makes the case loud and clear…The kids compel and entertain.”
VARIETY
“Refreshing… A film that has its heart firmly in the right place”.
SCREEN INTERNATIONAL
Festivals
& Awards
Venice Film Festival - Competition
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Talent
Shortlisted Best International Feature Film - Oscars 2021
Doha Ajyal Film Festival - Hilal Best Feature Film Award
Lanterna Magica Award - Venice
Leeds IFF - Opening Film
Transatlantyk IFF (Poland)
Alice in the City (Rome)
Sao Paulo Mostra
Miami Film Festival
Busan IFF
Stockholm IFF
Tallin Black Nights IFF
Macau IFF
Hainan IFF
La Havana IFF
Belgrade IFF
BUFF Malmo IFF
MOOOV Festival
Belgrade IFF
Munich Film Festival
Motovun IFF
Zlin Film Festival - Winner Golden Slipper Best Film - Junior Category
Stockfish film festival
Winner - Youth Jury Award - Vlissingen Film by the Sea Festival
Winner - Children's Film Award - Schlingel Film Festival - Germany
Cast & Crew
| Rouhollah Zamani | Ali |
|---|---|
| Shamila Shirzad | Zahra |
| Javad Ezzati | School Vice Principal |
| Mahdi Mousavi | Mamad |
| Abolfazl Shirzad | Abolfazl |
| Mani Ghafouri | Reza |
| Ali Nasirian | Hashem |
| Tannaz Tabatabaie | Ali’s Mom |
| Safar Mohammadi | School Janitor |
| Ali Ghabeshi | School Principal |
| Babak Lotfi | School teacher |
| Director | Majid Majidi |
|---|---|
| Screenplay | Majid Majidi Nima Javidi |
| Director of Cinematography | Houman Behmanesh |
| Editor | Hassan Hassandoust |
| Sound Mix & Design | Mohammad Reza Delpak |
| Consulting Producer | Mohammad Reza Saberi |
| Executive Producer | Mehdi Badrlou |
| Set Designer | Keyvan Moghadam |
| Composer | Ramin Kousha |
| Project Manager | Alir Reza Sabzevari |
| First Assistant Director & Coordinator | Mohammad Asghari |
| Make-up Designer | Mir Mohsen Mousavi Madani |
| Visual Effects Supervisor | Javad Matouri |
| Sound-recording | Hossein Bashash Bafekr |
| Costume Designer | Amir Malekpour |
| Head of International Affairs | Mohammad Reza Tashakkori |
| Still Photographer | Sahab Zaribaf |
| Logo Designer | Mohammad Rouholamin Mohammad Houshmandi |
Releases