Saudi Arabia At Oscars? Kingdom Opens First-Ever Submissions For 98th Academy Awards!

Pic Creds: CanvaPro/AlexKosev

Something pretty significant happened this week in Saudi Arabia’s entertainment world. The Saudi Film Commission just announced they’re changing how they pick movies for the Oscars, and honestly, it’s about time.

Saudi Arabia Makes Historic Move Toward Oscar Submission

Image Courtesy: Canva

For years, the commission has been choosing Oscar entries internally, basically keeping the process behind closed doors. Now they’re throwing the doors wide open and letting filmmakers across the Kingdom submit their own work for consideration. It’s the first time they’ve ever done this for the Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category.

What The Oscars Actually Mean For Saudi

The commission released detailed guidelines on Sunday that spell out exactly how this new process works. They’re following all the Academy’s rules to the letter, which shows they’re taking this seriously.

Here’s what filmmakers need to know: their movie has to have premiered in Saudi theatres between October 1st of this year and September 30th next year. Plus it needs to run commercially for at least a week. Makes sense – you can’t represent the country internationally if your own people haven’t had a chance to see your work first.

The selection won’t be random either. They’re putting together a committee of actual film industry professionals and experts who know what they’re looking at. These aren’t bureaucrats making decisions from conference rooms; they’re people who understand cinematography, storytelling, and what makes a film work on the international stage.

Beyond The Oscars

This Oscar submission thing is part of something bigger that’s been building for a while. The Saudi Film Commission is also planning to show up at the Locarno Film Festival next August in Switzerland. Having Saudi filmmakers there means getting in front of distributors, critics, and other filmmakers who can open doors globally. The timing works perfectly. Saudi Arabia’s been investing heavily in its entertainment sector, and you can see the results. 

Why This Matters Right Now

The Kingdom’s been going through major cultural changes, and the film industry is part of that transformation. A few years ago, movie theatres were banned entirely. Now they’re not just allowing films – they want Saudi movies competing for the biggest prize in cinema.

From a practical standpoint, opening up submissions makes total sense. The commission was probably missing great films because directors didn’t have connections or didn’t know the right people. Now talent can rise based on the work itself, not who you know.

There’s also the international perception angle. When Saudi Arabia sends a film to the Oscars that was chosen through an open, transparent process, it carries more weight than something selected behind closed doors. The global film community respects merit-based selection.

Also Read: No Late Check-Out! Saudi Tourism Confirms Hotels Will Stick To 20-Hour Fixed Stay Despite Late Arrivals

What Happens Next

The next few months should be interesting as submissions start coming in and we see what Saudi filmmakers have been working on. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is still months away, but the groundwork is being laid right now for what could be a historic moment for Saudi cinema.

Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/AlexKosev

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