The Iranian film Careless Crime (Jenayat-e bi deghat) by Shahram Mokri will have its North American Premiere at the 56th Chicago International Film Festival in the International Feature Film competition after its World Premiere in the Orizzonti competition in Venice, where it was awarded the Bisato d’Oro award.

The film starring Babak Karimi, Razieh Mansouri, Abolfazl Kahani, Mohammad Sareban, Adel Yaraghi, Mahmoud Behraznia, and Behzad Dorani will be available on the festival’s virtual cinema platform during the festival dates from October 14 – 25.

Film synopsis:

Forty years ago, during the uprising to overthrow the Shah’s regime in Iran, protestors set fire to movie theatres as a way of showing opposition to Western culture. Many cinemas were burned down. In one tragic case, a theatre was set on fire with four hundred people inside, most of whom were burned alive.

Forty years have passed and, in contemporary Iran, four individuals also decide to burn a cinema down. Their intended target is a theatre showing a film about an unearthed, unexploded missile. Will past and present meet?

Director Shahram Mokri commented, “I have been following the Chicago International Film Festival over the years. I have always admired the different feel of this festival. I am very pleased that now there is an opportunity for my film to be screened there. Especially in these stressful days between the two countries, it can be good for American audiences to see parts of Iran history and culture on the screen.”

Shahram Mokri’s former films Fish & Cat, was also selected at the Venice Film Festival in 2013, and Invasion, selected at the Berlinale in 2017.