TEHRAN -- “Nothing”, a social drama on a deprived family, finally received approval from the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance for screening.

However, the Culture Ministry’s Supervision and Evaluation Office (SEO) has obliged director Abdorreza Kahani to cut some scenes from the film.
the uncut version of the film will debut at the 28th edition of the Fajr International Film Festival, which will take place from January 25 to February 4, the Farabi Cinematic Foundation announced on Wednesday.
“Nothing” is about a man who is suffering from gluttony. Unable to satiate his hunger, he eventually becomes responsible for earning a living for a large family.
The SEO had previously announced a limited screening of the film and “Fire Keeper” directed by Mohsen Amiryusefi and “Frigidness” by Ali Ruintan.
“It was impossible for me to cut the scenes from the film with such short notice, so the SEO accepted that the film would be screened in its entirety at the festival for critics and cineastes and would be shown with some cuts in its public premiere,” Kahani told the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency on Wednesday.
“Nothing” stars Mehdi Hashemi, Marzieh Borumand, Pantea Bahram, Baran Kowsari, Saber Abar and Negar Javaherian.
Kahani’s previous film, “Twenty”, won the jury special award at the 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic in July 2009.
His “Over There” grabbed the Golden Alexander for the best film at the 49th International Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece in November 2008.
A screenplay must be approved by the Culture Ministry to obtain a production license in Iran. In addition, the film’s producer must apply for a screening license from the ministry for a domestic or foreign premiere.
No film can be produced or premiere in Iran if the Culture Ministry refuses to grant the necessary licenses.
Photo: Mehdi Hashemi in a scene of “Nothing”