Eleven films have been selected as their countries’ official submissions, including Saudi Arabia’s A Matter of Life and Death. India’s Angh is also eligible for consideration after winning the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival’s Platform Award.
The Red Sea Film Foundation has reached a new milestone, with a record 12 Foundation-supported films entering the race for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.
The films represent 12 countries across Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia. Eleven have been selected as official submissions by their respective countries, while India’s Angh is eligible to submit directly under new Academy rules for the category.
12 Films Representing Global Cinema
The 11 official country submissions supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation are:
- Saudi Arabia: A Matter of Life and Death, directed by Anas Batahaf
- Algeria: Roqia, directed by Yanis Koussim
- Chad: Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars, directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
- Egypt: The Stories, directed by Abu Bakr Shawky
- Georgia: Guria, directed by Levan Koguashvili
- Indonesia: Four Seasons in Java, directed by Kamila Andini
- Jordan: Sink, directed by Zain Duraie
- Morocco: Strawberries, directed by Laïla Marrakchi
- Rwanda: Ben’Imana, directed by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
- Singapore: We Are All Strangers, directed by Anthony Chen
- Syria: The Other Side of the Sun, directed by Tawfik Sabouni
The 12th film, Angh, directed by Theja Rio, represents India. It won the Platform Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), making it eligible for direct submission under the Academy’s updated rules for the 99th awards.
A Milestone for Regional Filmmaking
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, described the achievement as a moment of pride for the organisation and the filmmakers it supports.
He highlighted the significance of 11 films being selected as official national submissions, noting that the milestone reflects the talent and stories emerging from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa and Asia.
Baltyuor also emphasised the Foundation’s commitment to supporting filmmakers throughout their creative journeys, from early development to international recognition.
Strong Results at Major Film Festivals
The milestone follows a strong year for Foundation-supported films at major international festivals, including Cannes, Venice and Toronto.
At TIFF 2026, the Foundation presented its largest slate at the festival to date, supporting eight films. The run culminated in Angh winning the Platform Award.
Meanwhile, Ben’Imana, now Rwanda’s official submission for the Oscars, won the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival earlier in 2026.
These achievements highlight the growing international reach of films supported by the Foundation and the diverse voices gaining recognition across global cinema.
The Road to the 99th Academy Awards
The shortlist for Best International Feature Film is scheduled to be announced on 15 December 2026, followed by the nominations on 21 January 2027.
The 99th Academy Awards will take place in Los Angeles on 14 March 2027.
With 12 supported films in contention, the Red Sea Film Foundation enters the next stage of the awards season with its strongest presence yet in the international feature category.
