Iranian Cinema Abroad and at Home — 2026-09-08
Iran’s film industry faces a critical bottleneck as the selection committee for the 2027 Oscars remains unformed, leaving potential contenders like Majid Majidi’s films in limbo. Domestically, the state cinema organization has issued new production permits for four scripts and granted exhibition licenses for four commercial films, including a comedy starring Reza Attaran. Meanwhile, industry stakeholders are warning of a crisis in cinema hall operations, with one major institute proposing an "emergency plan" to save the exhibition network from collapse.
Iranian Cinema Abroad and at Home — 2026-09-08
Top developments
Oscar Selection Deadline Looms Without Committee
With less than a month until the deadline for submitting entries for the 2027 Academy Awards, Iran has not yet formed its selection committee, creating uncertainty for high-profile contenders. Reports indicate that Majid Majidi’s Noon Day Food (Ghazaye Nimrooz) and Land of Angels are among the leading candidates, but the lack of official process threatens their eligibility. This delay contrasts with previous years where selections were announced earlier in the autumn festival season.
New Exhibition Licenses Issued for Commercial Films
The Iranian Cinema Organization’s Council of Screening Permits has granted licenses for four new films to enter public theaters, including the comedy The Dream (Khab) starring Reza Attaran. The issuance of these permits signals a continued effort by regulators to release commercially viable content despite broader industry tensions. These releases are critical for maintaining box office volume in a market where independent and auteur films often face longer delays between completion and public viewing.
Emergency Plan Proposed to Save Cinema Network
The CEO of Sinmashehr Institute announced an "emergency plan" to be presented to the Cinema Council to prevent the collapse of Iran’s cinema exhibition network. The proposal aims to address the severe financial distress facing cinema halls, which have struggled with low attendance and rising operational costs. This development highlights the structural fragility of the domestic distribution system, which relies heavily on state subsidies and regulated ticket pricing.
Four New Production Permits Granted
The Filmmaking Permit Council approved four new scripts for production, including a project written, directed, and produced by Alireza Davoodnejad. This batch of permits represents the ongoing bureaucratic pipeline that controls what content can legally be filmed in Iran. While these are standard administrative approvals, they occur against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny on social dramas and political allegories in recent years.
Local view
Javan Online published an op-ed arguing that Iranian cinema needs more regulation and supervision than ever before, referencing past debates about removing production permits during the reformist and moderate government eras. The article suggests that the current discourse favors stricter oversight to manage the industry's direction.
Context & numbers
The deadline for submitting foreign language film entries to the 2027 Academy Awards is approaching rapidly, with less than a month remaining. Historically, Iran has submitted films such as Children of Heaven (1998), Color of God (1999), and Sun Children (2021). The absence of a selection committee this year is a notable deviation from the usual timeline.
On the radar
- Oscar Submission Deadline: Watch for the sudden formation of Iran's selection committee or a last-minute announcement of the national entry for the 2027 Oscars.
- Sinmashehr Proposal: The response of the Cinema Council to the proposed "emergency plan" for saving cinema halls will determine short-term survival strategies for theater operators.
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