Two films from the Middle East have received nominations on the Oscars shortlist, which was announced on Tuesday.
'A Hero', Asghar Farhadi, Iran
Two-time Oscar winner Iranian Asghar Farhadi's latest drama A Hero has made the Oscars shortlist for Best International Feature Film, which comes on the heels of a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film earlier this month.
The film, Farhadi's fourth, had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year where it won the Grand Prix. It will be released in US theatres on January 7 before it launches online on Amazon Prime Video on January 21.
The film follows the story of Rahim (Amir Jadidi), a family man who is imprisoned because of a debt that he is unable to repay. When on a two-day leave from prison, he tries to convince his creditor to cancel the complaint against him, but events then spiral out of control.
Farhadi won an Oscar in 2012 for A Separation, becoming the first Iranian film to win the award. In 2017, he won the Academy Award again for The Salesman.
'Tala'vision' by Murad Abu Eisheh, Jordan
Tala'vision by Jordanian filmmaker Murad Abu Eisheh has made the shortlist in the Live Action Short Film category. The film has won numerous awards including the Student Academy Award in 2021. Earlier this month, the film won the Golden Yusr in the shorts category at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah.
The film tells the story of Tala, 8, a girl who is not allowed to go outside. Her only link to the outside world is through a television set, until they are banned and her father throws it out. But things go really bad after Tala steals another set and keeps it a secret.
In 2016, Jordan received its first Oscar nomination with Theeb by Naji Abu Nowar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Nominated films for the 94th Academy Awards will be announced on February 8, 2022.
Oscars 2022 shortlist for Best International Feature Film:
Great Freedom (Austria)
Playground (Belgium)
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (Bhutan)
Flee (Denmark)
Compartment No. 6 (Finland)
I’m Your Man (Germany)
Lamb (Iceland)
A Hero (Iran)
The Hand of God (Italy)
Drive My Car (Japan)
Hive (Kosovo)
Prayers for the Stolen (Mexico)
The Worst Person in the World (Norway)
Plaza Catedral (Panama)
The Good Boss (Spain)
Oscars 2022 shortlist for Best Live Action Short Film:
Ala Kachuu - Take and Run
Censor of Dreams
The Criminals
Distances
The Dress
Frimas
Les Grandes Claques
The Long Goodbye
On My Mind
Please Hold
Stenofonen
Tala’vision
Under the Heavens
When the Sun Sets
You’re Dead Helen
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 1
Mata 11'
Chelsea 1
Alonso 43'
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Gertrude Bell's life in focus
A feature film
At one point, two feature films were in the works, but only German director Werner Herzog’s project starring Nicole Kidman would be made. While there were high hopes he would do a worthy job of directing the biopic, when Queen of the Desert arrived in 2015 it was a disappointment. Critics panned the film, in which Herzog largely glossed over Bell’s political work in favour of her ill-fated romances.
A documentary
A project that did do justice to Bell arrived the next year: Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Oelbaum’s Letters from Baghdad: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Gertrude Bell. Drawing on more than 1,000 pieces of archival footage, 1,700 documents and 1,600 letters, the filmmakers painstakingly pieced together a compelling narrative that managed to convey both the depth of Bell’s experience and her tortured love life.
Books, letters and archives
Two biographies have been written about Bell, and both are worth reading: Georgina Howell’s 2006 book Queen of the Desert and Janet Wallach’s 1996 effort Desert Queen. Bell published several books documenting her travels and there are also several volumes of her letters, although they are hard to find in print. Original documents are housed at the Gertrude Bell Archive at the University of Newcastle, which has an online catalogue.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
