Saudi Film ‘Hijra’ Selected as Kingdom’s Oscar Entry
Released in August at the Venice International Film Festival, the film follows a grandmother and granddaughter across northern Saudi Arabia.
‘Hijra’ has been selected to represent Saudi Arabia in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, to be held in Los Angeles in March 2026. The Saudi Film Commission made the selection following deliberations by a committee of Saudi filmmakers and industry specialists. The film will move through the Academy’s standard stages, including a preliminary list and a final shortlist ahead of nominations.
Released in August at the Venice International Film Festival, the feature explores female identity across generations through the story of a grandmother, Khairiya Nazmi, and her granddaughter, Lamar Feddan, who travel across northern Saudi Arabia to find a missing teenage girl. Shot for more than 55 days in Taif, Jeddah, Madinah, Wadi Al-Faraa, AlUla, Tabuk, NEOM, and Duba, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Hajj.
The film won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film last month. Ameen’s 2019 film 'Scales' was previously chosen as Saudi Arabia’s submission for the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021.
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