TEHRAN -- Jafar Panahi’s “Offside” and Mani Haqiqi’s “Men at Work” are the two Iranian nominees at the 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival to open on March 20.

Haqiqi nominated for the best screenwriter and Panahi for the best director at the non-competition section.

Bahman Qobadi’s latest film “Half Moon” and Bairam Fazli’s “Have You Another Apple?” are the other Iranian participants in the festival.

South Korea with 17 nominees, Hong Kong 15, China 13, Japan 11, Thailand 4, Indonesia and Taiwan 2 each, and India one are the other contenders.

The team of the jury comprising Peggy Chiao from Taiwan, Christian Jeune from France, Kim Ji-Seok from South Korea, and Marco Mueller from Italy will announce the best of Asian film awards on the opening day.

The festival will last till April 11.