TEHRAN – The latest film by the Iranian-British filmmaker Hassan Nazer titled “Without Permission” will have its world premiere in the Official Competition section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, set to be held in South Korea, from September 17 to 26.

“Without Permission” is a 2025 Iranian–Scottish drama written, directed, and produced by Nazer. Another Iranian director, Behrouz Sebt Rasoul, known for “Melody,” Tajikistan’s submission for the 2025 Oscars in the International Feature Film category, also appears in the film. The award-winning Iranian cinematographer Ali Mohammad Ghasemi serves as the director of photography.

The film follows the story of an exiled Iranian filmmaker who, after being denied permission to make his scripted project, turns to children to capture their candid voices and perspectives on love, identity, and freedom. By filming secretly in hidden locations, the narrative evolves into a reflection on self-expression within a world of limitations.

Hassan Nazer, 45, is a film director, screenwriter, editor, and producer. He moved from his hometown of Garmsar to Tehran and took theater courses under the Iranian director Hamid Samandarian. Moving to Scotland in 2000, he attended the University of Aberdeen, where he studied film and visual culture. He also began to build a restaurant business to support his filmmaking and eventually raised enough money to finance his own independent films.

His fourth film, “Utopia” about an Afghan woman as she travels to the UK for artificial insemination, was selected as the Afghan entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards and at the Golden Globes. The film has won more than 18 awards at national and international film festivals.

Nazer's fifth film “Winners” (2022) was the official UK entry for the 95th Academy Awards (2023) for Best International Feature.

Last week, the festival announced the world premiere of another film by an Iranian director in its upcoming edition. Shahram Mokri’s fifth feature film “Black Rabbit, White Rabbit” has been selected for the Vision–Asia section of the festival.

Dedicated to discovering and showcasing exceptional Korean and Asian films, Busan International Film Festival brings exceptional films to global audiences while solidifying Busan’s identity as a mecca for film and visual culture in Asia.

Widely regarded as Asia's acclaimed film festival, the BIFF plays a pivotal role in shaping the region’s cinematic landscape and has risen to stand proudly alongside renowned film festivals worldwide.

SS/SAB