It is the first time four Arab films have made the shortlist for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled the shortlist for the international feature film category at the upcoming Academy Awards, with four films from the Middle East named among the 15 titles in contention.
The shortlisted Arab selections include Iraq’s The President’s Cake, directed by Hasan Hadi; Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab by Kaouther Ben Hania, which is set in Gaza; Palestine’s Palestine 36, a historical epic by Annemarie Jacir set during the Arab revolt of the 1930s; and Jordan’s All That’s Left of You, an intergenerational family drama by Cherien Dabis that traces Palestinian history from 1948 through the late 1980s.
These films join a diverse international lineup comprising Argentina’s Belen, Brazil’s The Secret Agent, France’s It Was Just an Accident, Germany’s Sound of Falling, India’s Homebound, Japan’s Kokuho, Norway’s Sentimental Value, South Korea’s No Other Choice, Spain’s Sirat, Switzerland’s Late Shift and Taiwan’s Left-Handed Girl.
Several shortlisted titles also have strong connections to the Middle East and North Africa region. Sirat, directed by Oliver Laxe, was filmed in Morocco and stars Algerian-Turkish actress Jade Oukid. It Was Just an Accident, although submitted by France, is an Iranian production by director Jafar Panahi, who was recently sentenced in absentia to one year in prison after secretly shooting the film inside Iran.
A total of 86 countries or regions submitted films for consideration this year. According to the Academy, an international feature film is defined as a feature-length production made outside the United States with predominantly non-English dialogue.
Members of the Academy from all branches were eligible to participate in the preliminary voting round, provided they met minimum viewing requirements. To take part in the final nominations round, voters must watch all 15 shortlisted films. The official nominations will be announced in January.
Among the Arab titles, The Voice of Hind Rajab is set to premiere in UAE cinemas on December 18, while release dates for the other shortlisted films have yet to be announced.
