“Tonight, the largest private premiere in Iran’s film history occurred; there is no artist who is not among us,” said Modiri at the Kurosh Complex that has major movie theaters in the capital.

“This event is amazing and it is a great honor to have you here,” he added.

A total of 630 guests from all fields of art attended the premiere of the comedy drama. Among the guests were veteran filmmaker Bahman Farmanara, maestro Hossein Alizadeh, vocalists Homayun Shajarian and Salar Aqili, and Government Spokesman Mohammad-Baqer Nobakht.

Modiri also paid tribute to some recently-deceased celebrities including producer Ali Moallem, poet Afshin Yadollahi and actor Aref Lorestani.

“I eagerly wish they were here tonight and I’m sure they are somewhere here,” he said.

“5 P.M.” depicts a man who has to carry out a number of tasks on the last day of his life.

It was rumored that the film might fail to receive official permission to be screened due to several allegedly political innuendos within it. 

Consequently, Modiri issued a statement last week and said “5 P.M.” is not a political film. “It has been perceived as political,” he noted.

Modiri who is mostly famous for TV comedy series such as such as “Good Time”, “Pavarchin” and “Barareh Nights” made his directorial debut in TV in the early 1990s with “Flight 57”.

His popular series introduced actors such as Reza Attaran and Reza Shafijam, who later became the pillars of numerous comedy productions.

In July 2016, the comedy king who also starred in most of his works announced his plan to quit working for TV during an interview on Haft (Seven), a TV program that reviews Iranian cinema and TV productions.

He also spoke about his intention of making a debut in the motion picture industry with “5 P.M.”. 

“In my path to filmmaking, I intend to speak louder and in a more biting manner in the fields of politics and culture,” said on the TV program.

“TV has no place for these words and its limitations do not allow these words to be spread,” he noted.

Source: Tehran Times