Another milestone for the Lebanese director

Nadine Labaki became the first Arab woman to make the Oscars shortlist this week. Her film Capernaum was included in the list for the Foreign Language film category.

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This announcement comes just weeks after Nadine’s Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language film. It also marks the second time that a Lebanese film is up for the prestigious award, as Ziad Doueiri’s The Insult was nominated in the same category last year.

Nadine’s highly acclaimed film follows a 12-year-old boy who resorts to stealing and begging to survive on the streets of Beirut, and proceeds to sue his parents for bringing him into a world of suffering. The majority of the film’s cast features non-professional actors, some of whom are actual street children.

The award-winning director took to Instagram to thank the Academy for the recognition saying, “After years of research, tears and sweat, long production hours and sleepless nights, our film has been recognized on this year’s Foreign Language #Oscar shortlist”

 

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This year 87 countries submitted eligible entries for the Foreign film category, and only nine films were shortlisted. The official nominations will be announced on January 22.

Will she become the first Arab woman to be nominated at the Oscars? Watch this space!