Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission has officially picked up “Hijra” to represent the Kingdom at Oscars 2026, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The commission has selected the film to compete at the Best International Feature Film category for the 98th Academy Awards.
Therefore, “Hijra” will compete against multiple films from around the world and undergo several selection stages starting from the announcement of a preliminary list to the academy’s final shortlist.
The work follows a grandmother, Khairiya Nazmi, and her granddaughter, Lamar Feddan through their journey across northern Saudi Arabia to find a missing teenage girl.
Hence, the film sheds light on female identity across generations.
“It’s a story of women navigating who they are, and understanding what freedom means to them,” director Shahad Ameen told Arab News in September.
That is why the film was shot over more than 55 days in eight Saudi cities – Taif, Jeddah, Madinah, Wadi Al-Faraa, AlUla, Tabuk, NEOM, and Duba.
“It’s about the pilgrimage we make toward ourselves, and the cost of that journey,” Ameen said.
“Hijra” won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film in September.
By participating in the Oscars, Saudi Arabia emphasizes its dedication to narrating its unique stories and sharing them with global audiences. It also underscores the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to supporting its creative industries and boosting the creative economy in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.
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