Guardians of the Sun animation, a vibrant Iranian 3D musical adventure directed by Emad Rahmani and Mehrdad Mehrabi, was unexpectedly placed in the non-competitive section of the 44th Fajr Film Festival. Co-director Emad Rahmani expressed disappointment over the lack of transparency behind the decision.
“No official explanation was given. We met the registration deadline, and yet we were placed outside the competition without justification,” Rahmani said.
A Fantasy Rooted in Iranian Mythology
According to IBland’s News, Guardians of the Sun animation tells the story of two curious teenagers, Bahram and Janoo, who are fascinated by archaeology and Persian legends. Their journey begins in a fictional ancient site called “The Sleeping Plain,” where they search for the mythical sword of Khashayar; a hero said to have slain a three-headed dragon.
But instead of awakening the heroic spirit of Khashayar, their actions summon a talking ram. Together, the unlikely trio must stop artifact thieves trying to exploit the sword’s immense destructive power.
Technically Ambitious, Artistically Rich
Rahmani emphasized that Guardians of the Sun animation is not only visually ambitious; using Ray Tracing rendering to achieve near-international standards; but also built for broad appeal.
“The story is grounded in Iranian mythology but framed as an accessible, energetic musical adventure. Our core audience is students and teens, but it works for adults too.”
The 85-minute film took 18 months to produce, with over 140 artists, animators, and technicians involved. The voice cast includes seasoned professionals such as Nahid Amirian and Hamid Azizi, while the soundtrack was composed by Arash Babaei and Shahin Pejman.
Frustration with Festival Categorization
Despite meeting all technical standards and containing universal themes, Guardians of the Sun animation was left out of the main competition. Rahmani believes that if only one or two animated films are submitted, the fair choice is to evaluate them alongside other genres.
“Putting us in a separate ‘out of competition’ section; without any background or clear criteria; sends the wrong message to young creative teams.”
A Tribute to Persian Culture Through Modern Animation
Built on the creative legacy of previous works like The Legend of Sepehr and Sword and Sorrow, Guardians of the Sun animation continues Rahmani’s mission to reinterpret Iranian culture and mythology through animation. The story, music, and technical execution aim to deliver a joyful, culturally rich experience that stands out in the region’s animation scene.
Source: Mehrnews