TEHRAN -- Iran announced movie schedules for national premiere on Monday during the Noruz holidays, which will begin on March 21.

Political comedy “Outcasts 3” and family drama “Nader and Simin: A Separation” are among the four premieres of the Iranian New Year.
“The Outcast 3” mimics Iranian candidates campaigning in the atmosphere of the June 2009 presidential election. Reza Ruygari, Behnush Bakhtiari, Mohammadreza Sharifinia and Ali Dehkordi are among the cast.
Dehnamaki’s “The Outcasts 2” followed the group after being captured by Iraqi forces. It became a box office hit, generating revenues of about 30 billion rials (about $2.8 million).
Like the predecessor, “The Outcasts 3” received negative reviews from movie critics. However the reviews usually do not play a significant role in consumers’ decisions about comedy genre in Iran.
A portrayal of the break-up of a marriage, “Nader and Simin: A Separation” won the Golden Bear for the best film at the Berlin film festival and its cast ensemble received the best actor and actress Silver Bears at the event.
The post-election unrest in Iran overshadowed the screening of Farhadi’s previous acclaimed film “About Elly” in summer 2009. However, it draws film fans and critics to theaters during the screening.
However, the head of Iran’s Screening Guild Council Mehdi Karampur did not considered “About Elly” and “Outcasts 2” as rivals at the time of screening. The films were planned to screen simultaneously during Noruz 2009 but the screening of Farhadi’s film was postponed to summer of that year.
“‘Outcasts 2’ satisfies public audiences however Farhadi’s film is good but it cannot attract public moviegoers to theaters,” Karampur previously mentioned.
Other Noruz screening opportunities paled in comparison to these two films. “One of Us Two” by Tahmineh Milani will try its luck during Noruz.
Regarding her previous film “Payback”, “One of Us Two” which is about two architects with different viewpoints does not stand a chance as a box-office hit.
Two other pop comic films “Women are Incredible” by Mehrdad Farid and “Three Degree Fever” by Hamidreza Salahmand will go on screen during the Noruz holidays.