Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine have submitted films for the 2027 Best International Feature Oscar, with the 15-film shortlist due December 15.
LOS ANGELES: Seven Arab countries have entered films for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, bringing stories of war, migration, family, social pressure and political upheaval into the 2027 Oscar race.
Confirmed submissions have come from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine. Saudi Arabia and Tunisia opened selection processes but had not publicly announced entries after the Academy’s September 30 submission deadline.
Seven Arab entries confirmed
Algeria has selected Roqia, directed by Yanis Koussim. The horror drama moves between the 1990s and the present, using the story of a spiritual healer and an amnesiac man to explore memories of Algeria’s civil conflict.
Egypt’s entry is The Stories, Abu Bakr Shawky’s semi-autobiographical drama tracing the relationship between an Egyptian pianist and an Austrian woman across several decades.
Jordan has chosen Sink, directed by Zain Duraie, about a mother confronting her teenage son’s worsening mental-health crisis.
Stories from Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine
Lebanon is represented by Furies, Rami Kodeih’s heist thriller inspired by the country’s banking crisis. The story follows two sisters attempting to recover savings trapped in a bank.
Morocco has submitted Laila Marrakchi’s La Mas Dulce, also known internationally as Strawberries. The Cannes title follows Moroccan women travelling to Spain for seasonal agricultural work and confronting exploitation and difficult working conditions.
Palestine’s selection is Ahmed Hassouna’s documentary Citizen Osama, filmed in northern Gaza and centred on a photographer documenting the war while trying to protect his family.
Iraq has selected No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman, directed by Halkawt Mustafa, about a Kurdish sniper searching for her missing sister against the backdrop of conflict with ISIS.
The Academy will announce the 15-film International Feature shortlist on December 15, 2026, followed by the five Oscar nominees on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027.
Impact to expect
With seven confirmed Arab submissions spanning several genres and major international festivals, Arab cinema will have significant representation during the first stage of the 2027 International Feature Film race.
