Three Remarkable Arab Films Made it to the 2024 Oscar Nominations
The 96th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, will occur on February 25, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The Oscars are the most prestigious awards in the film industry, honoring the previous year’s best films in various categories. Among the nominees for this year’s Oscars, three remarkable Arab films have received critical acclaim and international recognition. These are:
Four Daughters
Four Daughters is a 2023 Arabic-language documentary film directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, the co-writer and co-producer. The film tells the story of Olfa Hamrouni, a Tunisian mother whose two eldest daughters disappeared, the filmmaker invites professional actresses to compensate for the loss. It reconstructs the family history through intimate interviews and performances, exploring the themes of rebellion, memory, and sisterhood. The film is an international co-production between France, Tunisia, Germany and Saudi Arabia.
Read more: The Full List of the Bafta 2024 Nominations
Four Daughters competed for the Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on May 19, 2023. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised its emotional impact, artistic vision, and social relevance. The film was selected as the Tunisian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards and was one of the 15 finalist films in the December shortlist. It was also nominated for the Best Documentary Feature category, making it the first Arab film to be nominated in both categories at the Oscars.
The Mother Of All Lies
The Mother Of All Lies is a 2023 documentary film directed, written, produced, and edited by Asmae El Moudir. The film follows the director’s search for truth in her family background, combining personal and national history. It reveals the secrets and lies that shaped the director’s identity, as well as the history of Morocco. The film is a co-production between Morocco, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
The Mother Of All Lies had its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where El Moudir won the Un Certain Regard Best Director award. It was the first time that a Moroccan woman won this award and the second time that an Arab woman won it. The film was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, the New York Film Festival, and the El Gouna Film Festival. It was selected as the Moroccan entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards and was one of the 15 finalist films in the December shortlist.
Read more: The Winners of the 2024 Golden Globe Awards Ceremony
Bye Bye Tiberias
Bye Bye Tiberias is a 2023 documentary film directed by Lina Soualem, and written by Soualem and Nadine Naous, in collaboration with Gladys Joujou. It follows Hiam Abbass, who leaves her native Palestinian village of Deir Hanna, Lower Galilee to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, leaving behind her mother, grandmother, and sisters. Abbass returns to her village, with her daughter, Soulaem, to explore her mother’s choices and family influence. It is a co-production between Palestine, Belgium, France and Qatar.
Bye Bye Tiberias has been nominated for Best Documentary at the 39th Independent Spirit Awards. It was selected as the Palestinian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards and was one of the 15 finalist films in the December shortlist.
The 2024 Oscars have recognized the talent and diversity of Arab cinema, with three films nominated in different categories. Among them, Four Daughters stands out as a powerful and innovative documentary that land is the only Arab entry to a nomination for the Best Documentary Feature category and a chance to grab a prize at the 2024 Oscars.
