TEHRAN --The well-known film director Majid Majidi began shooting his latest movie “Song of Sparrows” last week.

Majidi had previously announced that people interested in acting in the film should come forward for a screen test, but this invitation was not extended to the citizens of Tehran. He has begun shooting the movie in Shahriyar, a town near Tehran.

Assistant Javad Noruzbeigi told ISNA on Wednesday that they have commenced filming with the actor Reza Naji, who has had roles in several previous works, along with non-actors Mahdiyeh Asgari and Kamran Dehqan.

The non-actors were selected at a screen-test which took place on April 4 at the Bahman Cultural Center in southern Tehran.

Other young adults who were also selected are Hamed Aghazi, Puya Salehi, Mohammadreza Sheikhi, Shabnam Akhlaqi, and Neshat Nazari.

The screenplay is written by Majidi and Mehran Kashani.

“Song of Sparrows” features the story of Karim who is a worker at an ostrich farm in the suburbs. He is quite content with his life and his small house, but he is dismissed from his job due to a number of events. He is forced to leave Shahriyar and come to the city for work, but several incidents occur which greatly affect his life.

Cinematographer Turaj Mansuri, sound recorder Yadollah Najafi, make-up artist Saeid Malekan, stage and costume designer Asghar Nejad-Imani, and photographer Ali Tabrizi are among the crew.

Majid’s credits include “The Father”, “The Children of Heaven”, “The Color of Paradise”, “Baran”, and “The Weeping Willow”.