TEHRAN -- “Muhammad, the Messenger of God”, Majid Majidi’s epic about the childhood of the Prophet of Islam (S), will go on screen in Iraq this week and in the Russian Republic of Dagestan next week.

“The film will go on screen in two theaters in Baghdad on Thursday, while there are talks to screen the film in Karbala, Najaf and Erbil,” Mohammadreza Saberi, the Managing Director of Nurtaban, the Iranian film company that is the producer of “Muhammad (S)”, said in a press release on Monday.

He added that Dagestan will roll out the red carpet for director Majidi and several cast and crew members on November 17.

The Head of the Republic of Dagestan, Ramazan Abdulatipov, is also expected to attend the ceremony, he remarked.

Co-written by Majidi and Kambuzia Partovi, the film portrays the life of Muhammad (S) until he was 13 years old along with the religious and social atmosphere in Mecca at the time. 

The 39th Montreal World Film Festival opened with the world premiere of the movie in May 2015. 

Sareh Bayat, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Rana Azadivar, Alireza Shojanuri and Mina Sadati star in the film.

Renowned international craftsmen and artists such as editor Roberto Perpignani, special effects designer Scott E. Anderson, makeup designer Gianetto De Rossi and Indian composer A. R. Rahman have collaborated with Majidi in the production. 

With a budget of over $50 million, the 171-minute movie is the most expensive film ever made in Iran in five years.

“Muhammad, the Messenger of God” was Iran’s submission to the best foreign language film category at the 88th Academy Awards.

RM/YAW