produced in the UAE, has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Should the film prove successful at the ceremony on Feb. 28, it will become the first Arab film to receive an Oscar. The movie, a coming-of-age drama set in the First World War-era Jordanian desert, features a cast made up largely of Bedouins with no previous acting experience. The film, directed by Naji Abu Nowar, will go up against Colombia's Embrace of the Serpent, France's Mustang, Hungary's Son of Saul and Denmark's A War. Speaking to Al Arabiya News' Raed Omari back in September, Abu Nowar said his team was "overwhelmed" by the success the film has garnered globally. "It has been an overwhelming and joyous experience for the whole team. We are all very happy and the journey continues," he told Al Arabiya News. The film faced many obstacles on its way before hitting screen world-wide but as the director puts it, "Theeb" hopes recognition will push for more Arab cinema to reach international standards. "On a practical level I hope it proves to investors and funds here that we can make international standard films – and in Theeb's case for a lot less money than in the West – that can be celebrated across the world," he said. Discussing the success of Theeb, he said it has to do with an honest story, with honest characters, honestly told. "All human beings are essentially the same. If you study folklore throughout history and the world you will observe that most of our storytelling – wherever we come from on the planet – is very similar. So if you tell an honest story – from, in this case, the Bedouin community of southern Jordan – it will travel because humans all over the world will see themselves in the characters. If you tell a fake story or one that's contrived, you will alienate your audience." Questioned whether setting of the movie had any important connotations and would it be different if Theeb was set somewhere else in Jordan, Abu Nowar said the setting of a story is an extremely important part of the fabric of its telling. "We spent a year looking for the right locations. Every element in the filmmaking process requires time, passion, effort and careful consideration." On challenges he faced during the production of Theeb, Abu Nowar said the obstacles include financial, logistics, working with a young child, non-actors and animals. "It was something they always tell you never to do, and I ended up doing them all on my first film. But I was lucky to have a wonderful team who bring so much dedication and creativity to the table that you feel we could have overcome any problem. — Al Arabiya News
