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Saudi Rom-Com Eyes Oscars Glory
7 Oct
Summary
- Saudi film 'A Matter of Life and Death' is Saudi Arabia's Oscar pick.
- The romantic black comedy explores a unique relationship between two leads.
- The film premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah.
Anas Ba Tahaf's romantic black comedy, "A Matter of Life and Death," has been selected to represent Saudi Arabia in the international feature film category at the upcoming Academy Awards. This film signifies Tahaf's directorial debut after prior work on an Oscar-nominated Saudi film.
The movie is set in the vibrant city of Jeddah and stars Sarah Taibah and Yaqoub Alfarhan. Its plot centers on a woman convinced she is cursed and seeking to end her life, who encounters an introverted heart surgeon whose own unusual heart condition is triggered by near-death experiences. Their divergent desires for death and killing paradoxically lead them to fall in love.
"A Matter of Life and Death" had its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2025. It later opened theatrically in Saudi Arabia in June 2026, earning approximately $600,000. The film also received a jury special mention at the Saudi Film Festival, with Sarah Taibah winning an acting award. The shortlist for the Oscar nominations is expected on December 15, 2026, with the final nominations announced on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027, in Los Angeles. Film Clinic, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, and Arabia Pictures are among the producers, with Front Row Filmed Entertainment handling international sales.
