Ten films from the Arab world have been officially submitted in the race for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars 2022, including an entry from Somalia for the first time.
The category looks at films that are predominantly non-English in dialogue, including animation and documentary films. A shortlist of 15 finalists will be announced on December 21, with five nominees announced on February 8, 2022.
Last year, two films from the Arab world received Oscar nominations in two different categories: The Man Who Sold His Skin by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania for Best International Feature Film, and Farah Nabulsi's The Present in the Best Live Action Short category.
The 94th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 27, 2022.
Here is a look at the 10 Arab film submissions:
1. 'Casablanca Beats' by Nabil Ayouch (Morocco)
Nabil Ayouch's Casablanca Beats is considered the first fully Moroccan film to compete for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere in July earlier this year. Inspired by Ayouch's own childhood experience, the film tells the story of a poverty-stricken area on the outskirts of Casablanca and the kind of change a new cultural centre does to its youth. Last week, the film had its red carpet screening at El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt.
2. 'The Stranger' by Ameer Fakher Eldin (Palestine)
This is the debut feature from Fakher Eldin, who has both written and directed The Stranger. Set in the occupied Golan Heights, the film stars Ashraf Barhom and Mohammaed Bakri and is about a desperate unlicensed doctor going through an existential crisis, when he encounters a wounded man in the war in Syria. The film won the Edipo Re Award for Inclusion at the Venice Film Festival this year.
Palestine's first Oscar submission was Elia Suleiman's Divine Intervention in 2003. It has previously received two nominations for Best International Feature Film with Paradise Now (2005) and Omar (2013), both by Hany Abu-Asaad.
3. 'The Gravedigger's Wife' by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed (Somalia)
Somali-Finnish writer-director Khadar Ayderus Ahmed's film The Gravedigger's Wife has already made history. The film, which world premiered at Cannes Critics' Week in July, is the first Somali film to be submitted for the Oscars. The film has won the Amplify Voices Award at Toronto International Film Festival and the top prize at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. It follows the love story of a gravedigger trying to find ways to pay for his sick wife's treatment.
4. 'Golden Butterfly' by Abdelhamid Bouchnak (Tunisia)
Tunisia's National Centre for Cinema and Image announced earlier in October that Golden Butterfly (Papillon d'Or in French) by Abdelhamid Bouchnak had been selected to represent Tunisia at the Oscars. The film is the filmmaker's third feature. In 2020, Tunisia received its first Oscar nomination with Ben Hania's The Man Who Sold His Skin. It lost to the Mads Mikkelsen-starring Another Round.
5. 'Heliopolis by Djafar Gacem (Algeria)
Heliopolis has been selected for the second time to represent Algeria after its nomination was withdrawn last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The film is an Algerian drama based on the real-life events of May 8, 1945, in the city of Guelma, Algeria – called Heliopolis in ancient times – where French colonial forces attacked thousands of Algerians on the same day that the Europeans celebrated the end of the Second World War. The date is considered a day of mourning, where Algerians remember the thousands who perished in the attacks.
6. 'Amira' by Mohamed Diab (Jordan)
A tale of parentage and rebellion, Amira is inspired by a news story about Palestinian prisoners in Israel who smuggle their sperm out of jail.
“The moment I read about it, I thought ‘Is this a science fiction film?’ It’s so weird and yet so human. It’s a symbol of survival. To Palestinians, this is an untouched topic,” Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab told The National.
As the film explains, more than 100 children have been conceived in this manner. However, the film uses the smuggled sperm as a springboard into a gripping family melodrama, as its titular character discovers that the incarcerated man she thought to be her father is not her biological parent and sets out to find her origins.
7. ‘Costa Brava, Lebanon’ by Mounia Akl (Lebanon)
Mounia Akl’s debut feature Costa Brava, Lebanon is a family drama that mirrors the tragic reality that many in the country face today.
The story follows the free-spirited Badri family, led by Souraya (Nadine Labaki) and Walid (Saleh Bakri) who escape the toxic pollution of Beirut to set up a new home in the mountains.
The twist comes when the government resolves to put a landfill site right next to their rural retreat, causing their own relationships to suffer.
8. 'Souad' by Ayten Amin (Egypt)
A film about the trials of adolescence, first love and self-validation in the age of social media, Souad tells the story of a girl, 19, navigating the pressures of a conservative society and the freedom of expression she finds online.
The second feature from Egyptian director Ayten Amin, Souad was screened at Cannes Film Festival 2020 and at this year’s Berlin and Tribeca film festivals.
"I was always interested in how social media played a role in changing the relationships we have," Amin told The National.
“It plays a major role for girls in small cities in Egypt because it’s like a window of freedom. It’s a place where they can play certain roles away from their daily life, their conservative life. It’s a place where they have a daily boost.”
9. 'The Tambour of Retribution' by Abdulaziz Alshlahei (Saudi Arabia)
Dayel, the son of an executor, falls in love with Shama, the daughter of a wedding tambourine player, in a film that pulls back the curtain on one of the oldest and most impoverished neighbourhoods in Riyadh.
He finds out that Shama has her heart set for her cousin, Soror, who is imprisoned for killing the man that molested her. Dayel then takes up his father's job as a swordsman, hoping to get the chance to execute Soror.
The film was declared a winner of the Arab Cinema's Horizons Award at the 2020 Cairo International Film Festival. Faisal Al Dokhei, who plays Dayel, won the award for Best Actor at the event.
10. 'Europa' by Haider Rashid (Iraq)
Part horrific reality show, part sci-fi thriller, Europa tells the story of young Iraqi refugee Kamal who is trying to cross into Europe. He is at the Turkish-Bulgarian border, where local mercenaries are hunting down migrants. Alone in the forest, he finds he only has a few days to escape.
The film, by Iraqi-Italian director Haider Rashid has been screened at several international film festivals, including War on Screen, the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival and Nastro d'Argento, where the film picked up the Nastro della Legalita award.
“I really wanted to make a film that could be harrowing and claustrophobic and tough because I feel we're so anaesthetised right now from all the information," Rashid tells The National.
"The idea was to create an experience that was shocking because I feel in Europe the past few years it's been so difficult to deal with these issues. There's so much xenophobia and hate and propaganda that it's hard to even understand the concept of empathy. The tropes of a thriller are really useful in that, and I think using fiction in this way can go beyond what even a documentary can do.”
– This article was first published on October 24, 2021
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Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
Match info
Wolves 0
Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')
Man of the match: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
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Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Essentials
The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
