Every year, Arab filmmakers bring stories of resilience, memory, and identity to the global stage through their Oscar submissions. These films, drawn from across the region, weave together intimate lives and sweeping histories, showing how cinema can confront loss, celebrate love, and illuminate struggles often left in the margins.
This year’s lineup is no exception: each title carries with it the weight of its place, its people, and the artistry of a filmmaker determined to be heard.
Happy Birthday – Sarah Goher
Egypt
In this poignant debut feature set in modern-day Cairo, eight-year-old maid Toha goes to extraordinary lengths to make sure her best friend Nelly—the daughter of her wealthy employer—has a perfect birthday celebration.
Calle Malaga – Maryam Touzani
Morocco
In Tangier, an aging Spanish woman defies her daughter’s plan to sell the family home. Refusing to leave, she fights to hold onto her lifelong belongings—and in the process, rediscovers love and desire.
The President’s Cake – Hasan Hadi
Iraq
In 1990s Iraq, 9-year-old Lamia is tasked with baking the President’s birthday cake. As she struggles to gather the ingredients, the weight of possible punishment looms over her every move.
The Voice of Hind Rajab – Kaouther Ben Hania
Tunisia
Red Crescent volunteers respond to an emergency call: a 6-year-old girl trapped in a car under IDF fire in Gaza, begging to be saved. As they struggle to keep her on the line, they race to dispatch an ambulance to reach her.
All That’s Left of You, Cherien Dabis
Jordan
When a Palestinian teenager is swept up in a West Bank protest, his mother reflects on the family’s story of hope, courage, and relentless struggle that led to this moment.
Palestine 36 – Annemarie Jacir
Palestine
In 1936, as Palestinian villages rise up against British colonial rule, Yusuf moves between Jerusalem and his rural home, caught in the swell of unrest during a pivotal moment for the British Empire.
Whether set in Cairo, Gaza, Tangier, Baghdad, or Jerusalem, each submission offers the world a chance to listen more closely, to see more clearly, and to understand that these voices belong not only on the screen, but also in the global cultural record.
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