7 Movies from the Middle East on the Road to the Oscars
By Malak Khaled
Cinema gives each country a platform to share its talent, struggles, and culture with the world. From Palestine to Afghanistan, the films of 2024 highlight diverse stories that capture resilience, ambition, and identity. By competing for the Oscars, they are finally receiving the global recognition they deserve.
Hollywoodgate
Award-winning Egyptian filmmaker Ibrahim Nash’at explores Taliban-ruled Afghanistan in his documentary Hollywoodgate. The film focuses on the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, particularly how the Taliban took control of the Hollywood Gate complex. It is believed to have once been a CIA base and to hold $7bn worth of equipment.
The documentary is inspired by the viral videos of Afghans clinging with all their might to the undercarriage of a US military plane as it was evacuating. The horrific real-life scene left Nash’at wondering what tragic fate they are trying to flee.
Hollywoodgate offers a unique and unprecedented look into the Taliban’s rule, with Nash’at embedding himself within the movement for much of the year. The film producers are Nash’at alongside Shane Boris and Talal Derki, the Syrian-Kurdish filmmaker behind the Oscar-nominated Of Fathers and Sons.
From Ground Zero
From Ground Zero is a collection of 22 short films by Gazan filmmakers led by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi. The movie was initially set to be shown at the Cannes Festival but was pulled. So, the theme of resilience extended beyond the content of the film, and they screened it just outside the festival in an act of protest.
The stories in From Ground Zero evoke a wide range of emotions, from resilience and tragedy to hope and finding joy in unlikely places. The film is a creative project with different genres and compositions ranging from documentary and interview form to animation, puppetry, and stop-motion.
One of the stories, “Recycling,” highlights a mother’s attempts to make do with scarce resources. The film depicts her using a single bucket of water to hydrate her children, bathe them, clean the house, and do laundry.
Another is Nidal Damo’s “Everything is Fine,” a stand-up comedian arrives at his gig to find the aftermath of a massacre. The contrast between the joyful setting and the traumatic sight captures the grave reality of war.
No Other Land
No Other Land has been shortlisted in the documentary feature category. The film follows Palestinian journalist Basel Adra as he fights to protect his West Bank village from Israeli settlers. It is an Israeli-Palestinian production, co-directed by Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who is opposed to the Apartheid.
The film stole the spotlight in many festivals, winning multiple awards at prestigious events such as the Berlin International Film Festival and the International Documentary Association.
An Orange from Jaffa
An Orange from Jaffa has been shortlisted in the live-action short film category. Directed by Gaza-born filmmaker Mohammed Almughanni, the film tells the story of a young Palestinian man attempting to find a taxi to take him through an Israeli checkpoint. However, complications arise when the driver discovers the man has already failed to cross the checkpoint.
The film has already earned several awards from prestigious film festivals, including the Krakow Film Festival, the Leeds International Film Festival, the Art Film Festival, and the El Gouna Film Festival.
Arze
Arze is a Lebanese film directed by Mira Shaib about a mother and her son who travel across Beirut to retrieve his stolen scooter. The film highlights their journey through the city, showcasing the challenges they face along the way.
The title, Arze, means “cedar tree,” which is a symbol of Lebanon. Diamand Abou Abboud stars as Arze, the mother, representing both the strength of motherhood and the resilience of Lebanon itself.
Arze was one of the first films to receive support from the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation Production Fund. The film had its premiere at the Cairo International Film Festival last year and has since been screened at prestigious events, including the Beijing International Film Festival and the Tribeca Festival this year.
Flight 404
Flight 404 is a thriller directed by Hani Khalifa, with Mona Zaki in the lead role. She plays Ghada, a young woman preparing to travel to Makkah for the Hajj pilgrimage. Just days before her departure, Ghada faces financial difficulties and must confront toxic figures from her past to secure her flight.
The film’s gripping emotional narrative set it as an immediate fan favorite. It was released in cinemas across the Arab world in January, earning $4 million in ticket sales. It was also screened by the Hollywood Arab Film Association.
Everybody Loves Touda
French-Moroccan director Nabil Ayouch‘s film, which screened at the most recent Cannes Festival, has received positive reviews. It stars Nisrin Erradi as Touda, a single mother, and Sheikha, a traditional Moroccan singer.
Everybody Loves Touda follows her journey as she performs in the bars of her small town, hoping to make it to Casablanca and become a famous singer.
Nabil Ayouch cast Moroccan actress Nisrin Erradi as Touda, a captivating character who shifts between femme fatale, humiliated woman, and caring mother, embodying a woman’s journey in a patriarchal Moroccan society.
From the raw bravery of Hollywoodgate to the authentic stories in From Ground Zero, these films tell stories that are both unique and universal.
Competing for the Oscars gives them a chance to reach wider audiences and show the world the strength and creativity of the Arab world while also shedding light on scenes long-buried.
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