‘The Legend of Sepehr’ Animation Premieres in Moscow in Memory of the Minab Schoolchildren

The nationwide Russian release of the Iranian animated feature The Legend of Sepehr began on Monday evening at a special ceremony in one of Moscow’s best-known venues for children and young audiences. The event was dedicated to the memory of the 168 pupils killed at Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab. The film opened in 89 cinemas across Russia, with the release expected to expand gradually.

Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Abdolreza Rashed, the Iranian Embassy’s cultural counsellor in Moscow, executives from Russian distribution companies, filmmakers, families and Russian children attended the ceremony. Images of the Minab pupils were shown on the cinema screen.

Iranian ambassador: the tragedy of Minab’s children must not be forgotten

Jalali thanked the organisers for preserving the memory of the Minab victims and described relations between Tehran and Moscow as expanding. He said cultural ties are one of the most important pillars of the relationship and are receiving particular attention from officials in both countries.

Referring to the 168th day since the pupils’ deaths, Jalali said the 168 children who left home for school and never returned must not disappear from humanity’s memory.

He also announced that Iranian cultural days would be held in late September in Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan and Astrakhan. A 168-member delegation of Iranian artists will participate, using the number 168 as a symbol in memory of the children of Minab.

Leading Russian producers express solidarity with the victims’ families

Konstantin Yolkin, chief executive of the film production and distribution company Russian World Vision (RWV), welcomed the distribution of The Legend of Sepehr and described it as a high-quality, engaging film for children. He expressed solidarity with the families who lost their children and voiced hope that such tragedies would never be repeated anywhere in the world.

Vyacheslav Sengaevsky, chief executive and owner of the Russian company Kianoush Impex, explained that dubbing, promotion and preparations for online and theatrical release began after contact was established with the animation’s producers. The film has now opened in 89 cinemas and is expected to reach audiences across Russia in subsequent stages.

Sengaevsky also stressed the value of artistic exchange, saying that the movement of artists between the two countries builds a durable bridge of friendship, especially when cultural cooperation is essential to protecting national identity and independence.

A new step for Iranian animation in global markets

Produced by Mehdi Jafari Jozani and co-directed by Emad Rahmani and Mehrdad Mehrabi, The Legend of Sepehr is a fantasy adventure centred on family, courage, responsibility and resistance to darkness. It follows a teenager named Sepehr and his loyal companion Babo on a journey to save their homeland.

The Russian version, titled Легенда о Сепере, has been registered in Russian film databases, and its official dubbed trailer has been released on Kinopoisk.

The film’s wide Russian release marks a further step in the industrial development of Iranian animation, the export of cultural products and the international recognition of Iranian studios’ technical and storytelling capabilities.