Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission has officially selected “Hijra” to represent the Kingdom at Oscars 2026, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The commission has picked the film to compete at the Best International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards.
“Hijra” will compete against several films from all over the world and undergo numerous selection stages from the announcement of a preliminary list to the academy’s final shortlist.
By following a grandmother, Khairiya Nazmi, and her granddaughter, Lamar Feddan through their journey across northern Saudi Arabia to find a missing teenage girl, the film offers deep glimpses into female identity across generations.
“It’s a story of women navigating who they are, and understanding what freedom means to them,” director Shahad Ameen told Arab News in September.
That is why the film was shot over more than 55 days in eight Saudi cities – Taif, Jeddah, Madinah, Wadi Al-Faraa, AlUla, Tabuk, NEOM, and Duba.
“It’s about the pilgrimage we make toward ourselves, and the cost of that journey,” Ameen said.
In September, “Hijra” also won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film.
Through this participation in the Oscars, Saudi Arabia underscores its commitment to uncovering its unique stories and sharing them with global audiences. It also highlights the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to empowering its creative industries and advancing the creative economy in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.
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