Could 2014 be the year an Arab — or even GCC — film wins an Oscar?
Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Saudi Arabia have submitted critically acclaimed films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for consideration for Best Foreign Film at the 86th Academy Awards. Entries to the section closed on Tuesday, and nominees are announced on January 16, 2014.
Seeing that the first and only win for the Mena region was in 1969 (Algeria’s Z), Arab film fans — not to mention the industry — are keen to see a locally produced film gain major recognition.
After deciding not to submit a film in 2012 due to political instability, the Egyptian Filmmakers Syndicate chose Winter of Discontent as its Oscar entry for this year. Directed by Ebrahim Al Batout and starring Amr Waked and Farah Yousuf, the movie revolves around three characters during the revolution of January 2011.
“This is a politically reassuring choice,” Waked said of the film. “Artistically, we are very proud. It’s a work we put so much energy into, and this adds to the fact that all our efforts to make this film were not made in vain.”
The production has already appeared at the Venice and Dubai international film festivals, and is scheduled to open the 35th Cairo International Film Festival in December.
Throughout the Best Foreign Film category’s 58-year history (AMPAS introduced it in 1956), Egypt has never been nominated. As of 2011, the country holds the record (tied with Portugal) of submitting the most films to the competition without ever getting a nomination (28 submissions).
Lebanon’s record is slightly better, submitting 10 films as of 2012, which included festival favourites Caramel in 2007 and Where Do We Go Now? in 2011, both by Nadine Labaki. Could director Amin Dora be the one who changes Lebanon’s luck? His film Ghadi, starring Georges Khabbaz, is hoping to make it through to the nominations stage.
The only country mentioned above to have previously received a nomination is Palestine. This year’s entry is Hany Abu-Assad’s Omar, which has already won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It is the same director who was nominated for an Oscar in 2005 with Paradise Now.
Finally, making its first submission to AMPAS is Saudi Arabia with Wadjda, which has gained recognition for being the first feature-length film to be made by a female Saudi director (Haifaa Al Mansour). It has already won nine film festival awards, including Best Film at the 2012 Dubai and Venice International Film Festivals, plus the 2013 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Out of all the films above, there’s no doubt that a win for Saudi Arabia would be the most exciting. Not only due to the fact that it’s the country’s first submission, but more importantly this would mark a huge milestone for the Saudi film industry, particularly for female filmmakers.
Sadly, politics plays a heavy role at the Oscars — AMPAS has a reputation for not giving Arab films the credit they deserve.
For example, filmmakers from the region have been dismayed at the number of times Israel received nominations (10 so far). Meanwhile, when Paradise Now was initially nominated as a submission from Palestine, it was changed to a submission “from the Palestinian Authority” following protests from pro-Israeli groups in the US, a move that was decried by director Abu-Assad. During the awards ceremony, the film was eventually announced by presenter Will Smith as a submission “from the Palestinian Territories”.
