|
“200 Meters” to
Represent Jordan
for 2021 Oscars International Feature Film Award
Amman, 18th
November 2020
Jordan has
selected “200 Meters”, by Ameen Nayfeh, as its official entry for
the 2021 International Feature Film category of the 93rd Academy
Awards (Oscar®).
An expert
committee made up of Jordanian professionals involved in the
cultural and audiovisual scene chose this film, while The Royal Film
Commission - Jordan organized the process, being the country’s
official submitting body for the Oscar®.
A family
drama and a road movie, the film tells the story of a couple –
Mustafa and Salwa - living in two Palestinian villages, only 200
meters apart but separated by the dividing wall. Their unusual
living conditions and the hurdles encountered affect their otherwise
happy marriage. One day, Mustafa gets a call: his son has had an
accident and is hospitalized. Rushing to cross the Israeli
checkpoint, his once 200-meter journey turns into an odyssey joined
by other travelers all determined to cross the checkpoint.
“200 Meters”
is the debut feature film of the young writer and director, who
spent his formative years moving between Jordan and Palestine. It
received a Development grant from the Jordan Film Fund and later
took part in Rawi Screenwriters Lab in Jordan. It premiered at
Venice Days last September, where it won the People’s Choice Award.
It also won Best Actor award for Ali Suliman at Antalya Golden
Orange Film Festival and then went on to sweep three awards at El
Gouna Film Festival: Cinema for Humanity Prize, FIPRESCI
International Critics Prize and Best Actor. The film has also
recently received The Meet the Neighbors Golden Alexander and Best
Director awards at the 61st Thessaloniki International Film Festival
as well as Extraordinary Stories Official Selection Special Screen
Best Film at Seville Film Festival.
A statement
of the committee, chaired by the Jordanian director Amin Matalqa,
said: “On behalf of Jordan, we are proud to submit Ameen Nayfeh’s
“200 Meters” to the Academy Awards for the category of Best
International Film. "200 Meters" tells the story of resilience and
optimism in the face of man-made walls and barriers. Writer and
director Ameen Nayfeh handles every detail with beautiful
understated nuance, humor and humanity. Rarely does a film succeed
on every level like this, from Ali Suliman’s absorbing performance
to every character he meets on the road. With its superb writing and
direction, this film will endure the test of time to become one of
the great Arabic classics.”
The 2021
Oscars are taking place on the later date of April 25th, due to the
global pandemic. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
have revised exceptionally its eligibility criteria this year,
notably with regard to theatrical release requirements.
Jordan was
last nominated for the race in 2016 for “Theeb” by Naji Abu Nowar.
For more
information, please call: Marian Nakho 00962 797557116
About The
Royal Film Commission:
The Royal
Film Commission – Jordan (RFC) is a public institution, with
administrative and financial autonomy, established in 2003 with a
mandate to promote for and contribute to the development of an
internationally competitive Jordanian audio-visual industry. The RFC
organises training workshops, screenings and provides production
support services. |