The latest film by acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, titled 'Midday Meal,' will be shown at its world premiere in the main competition program of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in Tehran.
This 129-minute family social drama that addresses themes of human and children's rights is a 2026 production and marks Majidi's first visit to the festival, according to ISNA.
The film was financed by the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Youth and was shot exclusively in southern Iran using an entirely local cast, without the participation of famous stars.
Although plot details and actors have not yet been revealed, it appears that Majidi has maintained his tradition of storytelling through the lens of youth in his new work.
A significant aspect of this work is the return of cinematographer Houman Behmanesh, who is collaborating with Majidi for the second time after the film 'Sun Children.'
The current edition of BIFF is the first since the International Federation of Film Producers Associations recognized Busan as one of its 17 top-tier (A-list) festivals. The winner of the Busan award for best film now also has the right to submit for an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature category. This status places Busan on par with five other festivals eligible for Oscar submissions: Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, and Toronto.
In its second year, the best films competition features 14 Asian films, 12 of which are world premieres. Among them are four films from debut directors and four from female filmmakers.
In addition to 'Midday Meal,' the program includes 'Beach Fantasies' by Korean newcomer Lee Hyeon, 'Between Two Lovers' by Hirose Nanako, a student of Hirokizu Koreeda, and 'First Taste of Loneliness' by Chinese director Gu Yu. Works from Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and Taiwan are also included in the program.
Majid Majidi, 67, is an Iranian filmmaker and producer. His films often focus on children or adolescents, exploring themes such as childhood innocence, family bonds, poverty, social issues, and solidarity, and are characterized by a humanitarian orientation.
His notable works include 'Children of Paradise' (1997), 'Color of Paradise' (1999), 'Ram' (2001), and 'Song of Sparrows' (2008). The film 'Children of Paradise' was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature.
Recently, Majidi directed the epic film 'Muhammad: Messenger of God' (2015), dedicated to the childhood of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and blessings of God).
The Busan International Film Festival, held annually in the Haeundae district of Busan, South Korea, is one of Asia's most important film festivals. The main goal of BIFF is to showcase new films and debutants, especially from Asian countries. Another notable feature of the festival is its appeal to youth, both in terms of a large young audience and through efforts to develop and promote young talent.
The 31st Busan International Film Festival will take place from October 6 to 15, and the Asia Content and Film Market will run from October 10 to 13.