Inspired by true events, the film tells the story of 14-year-old girl Farha in Palestine in 1948, who watches from a locked pantry as catastrophe consumes her home.
Jordan has nominated the debut feature of Jordanian writer-director Darin J. Sallam’s Farha as the country’s official entry for the 95th Academy Awards to compete at the International Feature Film category for the year 2023.
An independent selection committee made up of six members – who are Jordanian professionals and experts in the audio-visual field – selected this movie, which was entirely shot in Jordan. Being the country’s official submitting body for the Oscar, the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC) organises the process which includes forming the selection committee, with no RFC representative.
Inspired by true events, Farha tells the story of 14-year-old Farha, who is locked up in a small room as war erupts in Palestine in 1948. Alone in her abandoned village, she undergoes a life-turning experience, as her dream changes from getting an education to surviving.
The cast includes Ashraf Barhoum, Ali Suliman, Sameera Asir, Firas Taybeh, Majd Eid and emerging young actress Karam Taher. The film, which is mostly led by women, is produced by Deema Azar and Ayah Jardaneh of TaleBox in Jordan, and co-produced by Laika Film & Television and Chimney in Sweden.
Commenting on the film, the selection committee said: “With great subtlety and elegance, Farha succeeds in presenting a unique cinematic perspective on a subject matter that has the distinct sentimental burden and has long intrigued Arab filmmakers which makes it a film with a significant value both at the levels of form and substance. Its complex narrative approach combines cultural specificity with universal minimalism to create a human story that transcends nations.”
Farha has had a successful festival tour in more than 40 festivals so far, where its world premiere was at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021. The film has won the Best Euro-Mediterranean Film dealing with Women Issues/ EU Award, Best Director Award and Best Actress Award at the Aswan International Film Festival 2022. It has also received a Special Mention Award at the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2021. It had its Jordanian premiere at the third edition of the Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film in July 2022, in the presence of the cast and crew. The movie was theatrically released in Jordanian cinemas last August.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will announce the shortlisted films for the 2023 Oscar on December 21, whereas the nominated films will be announced on January 24 of next year. The 95th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 12, 2023.
