![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7AY7MPDBMVGXLAM7SBGK6V423A.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a2498fad5c67bb38b8aa1e6acdd1d2dda151fc349b1ac4547ba4526289f7253&width=400&height=225)
Winners by British-Iranian director and writer Hassan Nazer is the UK's official submission
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COV6REPN25BMZAF4DVFXME6AB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=248be6f0e1637c162de2253cf8c62c822e0b3d7c161d56ba4d386e8b4ed850dc&width=400&height=225)
Thirteen films from and about the Mena region submitted in the Best International Feature category for the 95th Academy Awards reveal a diverse range of stories.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PK47LLAY4RD3NM3LBZD63WRC5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=d54d2c8a19f199a1bde405dac70bcc1029fd17cf2b8f1c56942efedd728bedb5&width=400&height=225)
Under the Fig Trees from Tunisia is directed by Erige Sehiri
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AAL2NUF2VVEEHNFKPUUMQ3LBYA.webp?smart=true&auth=5d7090a8d3f5839062ebab11a3adfd90acf07de33a983910e05691b99ee677db&width=400&height=225)
Mediterranean Fever from Palestine is directed by Maha Haj
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FCFFUKYIBAMPBFORG7E7YMOGM.webp?smart=true&auth=aaf9411da15722969d126000288992fac8a91bd3a98e9d07ffbdc3c7c0e575fc&width=400&height=225)
Our Brothers from Algeria is directed by Rachid Bouchareb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPRHDJFM65A4FJ4XFRYDTPWEV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=cad93cd6cac94074be1aff1909ae169a2c97316d52aa0eaf857bc4df97a81dc0&width=400&height=225)
Memory Box from Lebanon is directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XOLFY7ICBNBMRCLC6KSD4L6WB4.webp?smart=true&auth=b3ddd424864a218e690406bc3e4b271c403aee5dbc5121068cccfc740a042119&width=400&height=225)
Farha from Jordan is directed by Darin J. Sallam
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XGN42P62XFHTXJ27PONLJHD7NA.jpg?smart=true&auth=82c19dbf47acea19c5480162bc524444da551985ffe615c490e7d416dfa8b85e&width=400&height=225)
Cinema Sabaya from Israel is directed by Orit Fouks Rotem
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6572CJVI55CY3IT2LEGK4QKZIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9bbfc17c1c936b7f32e9b2e8bc3677b606973f863c8e3722e5091cee0ae978a&width=400&height=225)
World War III from Iran is directed by Houman Seyyedi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MV5ANFBNLZFS3OBSB4TBHBAZUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d4aad7216dd1e208989b8eb93f9640b7b7781a26313adcf935b144ddea09f29&width=400&height=225)
The Blue Caftan from Morocco is directed by Maryam Touzani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YZW74RTWQRFZDJPY7WE62KBCOY.webp?smart=true&auth=14bd7a2c53aedb3029012fac0ac5d1ba3454355ea6b86fbeb3939ea836913f32&width=400&height=225)
The Exam from Iraq is directed by Shawkat Amin Korki
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OTVZADZARJHMPH2AKO75DA4XTU.png?smart=true&auth=a3f57edd86d643f3f9fb5f6491b4c07b2e53080f52bfd08bf06f266826155ca3&width=400&height=225)
Raven Song from Saudi Arabia is directed by Mohamed Al-Salman
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A6XGAVSE6VDT7B3RLXYSYIWJUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=585117daca2019564f74d664c349a83840df1c70b3c107567e1ba8951ddf4eef&width=400&height=225)
Boy from Heaven is being submitted by Sweden and is directed by Swedish-Egyptian director Tarik Saleh
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2DCP26MJMRCCDKFKWNNQXIZR2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf702739f8052ca70310e6f9ca9c5b7026975ec8cc0237f653ff2d08be023fb8&width=400&height=225)
Holy Spider is an Iranian language film directed by Ali Abbasi and submitted by Denmark
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7AY7MPDBMVGXLAM7SBGK6V423A.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a2498fad5c67bb38b8aa1e6acdd1d2dda151fc349b1ac4547ba4526289f7253&width=400&height=225)
Winners by British-Iranian director and writer Hassan Nazer is the UK's official submission
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/COV6REPN25BMZAF4DVFXME6AB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=248be6f0e1637c162de2253cf8c62c822e0b3d7c161d56ba4d386e8b4ed850dc&width=400&height=225)
Thirteen films from and about the Mena region submitted in the Best International Feature category for the 95th Academy Awards reveal a diverse range of stories.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PK47LLAY4RD3NM3LBZD63WRC5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=d54d2c8a19f199a1bde405dac70bcc1029fd17cf2b8f1c56942efedd728bedb5&width=400&height=225)
Under the Fig Trees from Tunisia is directed by Erige Sehiri
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AAL2NUF2VVEEHNFKPUUMQ3LBYA.webp?smart=true&auth=5d7090a8d3f5839062ebab11a3adfd90acf07de33a983910e05691b99ee677db&width=400&height=225)
Mediterranean Fever from Palestine is directed by Maha Haj
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FCFFUKYIBAMPBFORG7E7YMOGM.webp?smart=true&auth=aaf9411da15722969d126000288992fac8a91bd3a98e9d07ffbdc3c7c0e575fc&width=400&height=225)
Our Brothers from Algeria is directed by Rachid Bouchareb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NPRHDJFM65A4FJ4XFRYDTPWEV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=cad93cd6cac94074be1aff1909ae169a2c97316d52aa0eaf857bc4df97a81dc0&width=400&height=225)
Memory Box from Lebanon is directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XOLFY7ICBNBMRCLC6KSD4L6WB4.webp?smart=true&auth=b3ddd424864a218e690406bc3e4b271c403aee5dbc5121068cccfc740a042119&width=400&height=225)
Farha from Jordan is directed by Darin J. Sallam
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XGN42P62XFHTXJ27PONLJHD7NA.jpg?smart=true&auth=82c19dbf47acea19c5480162bc524444da551985ffe615c490e7d416dfa8b85e&width=400&height=225)
Cinema Sabaya from Israel is directed by Orit Fouks Rotem
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6572CJVI55CY3IT2LEGK4QKZIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9bbfc17c1c936b7f32e9b2e8bc3677b606973f863c8e3722e5091cee0ae978a&width=400&height=225)
World War III from Iran is directed by Houman Seyyedi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MV5ANFBNLZFS3OBSB4TBHBAZUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d4aad7216dd1e208989b8eb93f9640b7b7781a26313adcf935b144ddea09f29&width=400&height=225)
The Blue Caftan from Morocco is directed by Maryam Touzani
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YZW74RTWQRFZDJPY7WE62KBCOY.webp?smart=true&auth=14bd7a2c53aedb3029012fac0ac5d1ba3454355ea6b86fbeb3939ea836913f32&width=400&height=225)
The Exam from Iraq is directed by Shawkat Amin Korki
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OTVZADZARJHMPH2AKO75DA4XTU.png?smart=true&auth=a3f57edd86d643f3f9fb5f6491b4c07b2e53080f52bfd08bf06f266826155ca3&width=400&height=225)
Raven Song from Saudi Arabia is directed by Mohamed Al-Salman
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/A6XGAVSE6VDT7B3RLXYSYIWJUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=585117daca2019564f74d664c349a83840df1c70b3c107567e1ba8951ddf4eef&width=400&height=225)
Boy from Heaven is being submitted by Sweden and is directed by Swedish-Egyptian director Tarik Saleh
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2DCP26MJMRCCDKFKWNNQXIZR2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf702739f8052ca70310e6f9ca9c5b7026975ec8cc0237f653ff2d08be023fb8&width=400&height=225)
Holy Spider is an Iranian language film directed by Ali Abbasi and submitted by Denmark
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7AY7MPDBMVGXLAM7SBGK6V423A.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a2498fad5c67bb38b8aa1e6acdd1d2dda151fc349b1ac4547ba4526289f7253&width=400&height=225)
Winners by British-Iranian director and writer Hassan Nazer is the UK's official submission
Mena film submissions at Oscars 2023 span real-life stories to fictional dramas
From Iraq and Morocco to Iran, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, here are the films in the running for the Best International Feature Academy Award
![Maan Jalal](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Ff4334dea-76c8-44d3-9186-3b33904bc077.png?smart=true&auth=b5db40c4ebe192d7fbb1db21df087f413a321555a7788b8a7dcd5f7c66b7a599&width=70&height=70)
Maan Jalal
07 December, 2022
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