TEHRAN- Tajikistan has officially submitted the film "Melody," directed by Iranian filmmaker Behrouz Sebt Rasoul, for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. This submission represents Tajikistan's first entry in 19 years and stands as its third submission overall.

In a talk with the Tehran Times on Saturday, the director confirmed that the submission was made by the Union of Cinematographers of Tajikistan.

The Union of Cinematographers of Tajikistan is an organization appointed by AMPAS to select the Tajikistan's submission for consideration for the International Feature Film Award (formerly known as the Foreign Language Film Award) at the Oscars.

“Melody” tells the story of a young musician girl, Melody, who is determined to compose a heartfelt piece for children battling cancer, using the recorded sounds of thirty different birds, despite the presence of hunters in the area. She returns to her home village in order to capture the beautiful sounds of the birds and receives assistance from the speechless caretaker of her family's house, Mango. 

After discovering a mere twenty birds, Mango reveals to her that the location of the remaining birds is known only to the wise village singer, who has been driven away from the village by the bird hunters. Melody embarks on a journey to locate both him and the missing birds.

Set in a stunning natural backdrop, the story unfolds amidst the enchanting beauty of the surroundings. Screenwriter Sebt Rasoul skillfully incorporates elements like birds, children, music, and nature itself to elevate the narrative, transforming the film into a mesmerizing experience.

Sebt Rasoul's third feature film combines the captivating elements of social genre with a touch of mysticism. 

The film stars Iranian actor Diman Zandi, Alireza Ostadi and Meghdad Eslami from Iran as well as  Safar Haqdodov and Zulfiya Sadikova from Tajikistan. 

"Melody" premiered internationally at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa on November 24, 2023. The film is produced by Sebt Rasoul’s Tehran-based Nama Film Company in collaboration with the state-owned Tajikistan broadcaster Safina.

Dreamlab Films, the France-based international distributor under Iranian film expert Nasrin Mirshab, is handling the international sales and distribution of “Melody”.

The film has garnered significant recognition on the international stage, participating in several prestigious film festivals. It was showcased in the 21st Chennai International Film Festival in India in 2023. Following this, "Melody" was selected for the competitive section of the 42nd Fajr International Film Festival in Iran in February, and the 24th Keswick Film Festival in London in March. 

At the 23rd ImagineIndia Film Festival in Madrid, Spain, the film achieved remarkable success, winning several awards including Best Director of Photography, Best Music Design, and Best Original Music. Additionally, it received a nomination for Best Actress and Best Sound Design at the same festival. 

"Melody" continues to attract attention, with its inclusion in the Iranian Film Festival Zurich and the 11th Silk Road International Film Festival in China in September. The film will also participate in the competitive section of the 4th Izmir International Film Festival in Turkey in November, as well as the 11th Duhok International Film Festival in Iraq in December. It is also set to go on screen at the panorama section at the Australian Cinémathèque in Brisbane, Australia, in February 2025.

The film was chosen as Tajikistan's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards; however, it did not make the final list due to a late submission. In contrast, the film was submitted on time for the 97th Academy Awards.

Tajikistan's last Oscars’ submission occurred in 2005 with the romantic drama "Sex & Philosophy," directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf. However, that submission was disqualified due to the late arrival of the film's print to the Academy. The only other instance of Tajikistan entering a film in the Oscars was in 1999, with Bakhtyar Khudojnazarov's comedy-drama "Luna Papa," which did not receive a nomination.

With the timely submission of "Melody" for the upcoming 97th Academy Awards, Tajikistan has reignited hopes for recognition on the international stage, highlighting the artistic collaboration between Iranian and Tajik filmmakers.

SAB/