Saudi Oscar Submission Heads to Cinema Akil This October

Saudi dark romantic comedy ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ will screen at Cinema Akil in Alserkal Avenue from October 23rd, bringing director Anas Ba Tahaf’s feature debut to Dubai following its Saudi theatrical release.

Set in Jeddah, the film stars Sarah Taibah as Hayat, a superstitious young woman convinced she is cursed, and Yaqoub Alfarhan as Yousef, an introverted heart surgeon whose unusually slow heartbeat accelerates when he is close to death. An unusual pact between the two gradually develops into a romance.

The film premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival before opening in Saudi cinemas in June, where it grossed approximately USD 600,000 according to Rentrak. It later received a jury special mention at the Saudi Film Festival, while Taibah won an acting award for her performance as Hayat.

‘A Matter of Life and Death’ was also selected as Saudi Arabia’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The Academy shortlist is due on December 15th, with nominations to follow on January 21st ahead of the ceremony in Los Angeles on March 14th.

The film is produced by Mohamed Hefzy for Film Clinic, Gianluca Chakra for Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Abdulelah Alahmary and Ahmad Taema for Arabia Pictures, with support from the Red Sea Fund. Front Row Filmed Entertainment is handling international sales.