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Jordan Submits “Amira” for Consideration at the 2022 Academy Awards
Amman, 11 November 2021
Jordan nominated the feature-narrative film “Amira”, by Mohamed Diab,
as its official entry for the 94th Academy Awards (Oscar®) to
compete at the International Feature Film category.
Based on the recommendations of an independent committee consisting
of Jordanian experts involved in the writing field and the
audio-visual scene, the committee chose this feature, which was
entirely shot in Jordan in 2019 and is co-produced by Jordan, Egypt
and Palestine. The independent committee, made up of nine members,
was formed by The Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC), as the
country’s official submitting body for the Oscar®. The RFC had
announced, last September, an open call for submissions for feature
narrative films to be nominated to the Academy Awards, organized the
process and compiled the applications.
The
film follows Amira, a 17-year-old Palestinian, who was conceived
with the smuggled sperm of her imprisoned father, Nawar. Although
their relationship since birth has been restricted to prison visits,
he remains her hero. His absence in her life is overcompensated with
love and affection from those surrounding her. But, suddenly,
Amira’s world turns upside down.
The
cast includes the Jordanian star Saba Mubarak, the emerging
Jordanian actress Tara Abboud, who plays the role of “Amira”, the
Jordanian actor Suhaib Nashawan as well as the Palestinian actors
Ali Suliman, Waleed Zuaiter and Kais Nashif.
While the film was shot in Amman and Salt, the majority of the crew
were Jordanians with around 128 individuals, who worked across the
different departments and two local entities participated in the
production.
“Amira” had its World Premiere at the 78th Venice International Film
Festival where it won the collateral Award “Lanterna Magica” granted
by the jury of Cinecircoli Giovanili Socioculturali (CGS) and the "Enrico
Fulchignoni" Award. The film also got a Special Mention at Carthage
Film Festival (JCC) and participated at El Gouna Film Festival,
Palestine Film Days, Chicago International Film Festival and
Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival.
About the selection of the film, a statement of the committee said:
““Amira” is a powerful examination of identity and humanity seen
through the eyes of a young girl searching for herself. Mohamed
Diab’s masterful filmmaking absorbs the viewer through the nuances
of internal conflict so beautifully depicted by his incredible cast,
mainly: Tara Abboud, Saba Mubarak and Ali Suliman. This is great
daring filmmaking at its very best.”
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will announce the
shortlisted films for the 2022 Oscar® on December 21st, whereas the
nominated films will be announced on February 8th of next year. The
94th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 27th, 2022.
With this selection, Jordan had submitted, in the past years, a
total of six films for the same category: “Captain Abu Raed” by Amin
Matalqa, “Cherkess” by Mohyeddin Qandour, “Theeb” by Naji Abu Nowar,
“3000 Nights” by Mai Masri, “200 Meters” by Ameen Nayfeh. The
Kingdom was last nominated for the race in 2016 for “Theeb” by Naji
Abu Nowar. Another Jordanian short film - “Baheya and Mahmoud” by
Zaid Abu Hamdan - had also made its way by qualifying for the Oscar®
nomination back in 2012.
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