Actress Diamand Bou Abboud in the lead role of "Arzé," Mira Shaib's film. (Credit: Ambient Light Films)
The Lebanese Oscar pre-selection committee has chosen ‘Arzé’, a film by Mira Shaib, to represent the country in the Best International Feature Film category.
“I wish this news had come at a much better time, but despite everything, we continue to create art and make our voices heard!” said Faissal Sam Shaib, co-writer and co-producer with Louay Khraish.
“Arzé is a deeply personal work because it reflects the heart of Lebanon, its resilience, and its beauty, even in the face of overwhelming challenges,” Shaib also stated.
Produced by Ambient Light, the film was released in Lebanese theaters in early September and is described as an ode and a love letter to the city of Beirut. It follows the struggles of a young single mother, played by actress Diamand Bou Abboud, and the absurd challenges she and her son must overcome to survive in a post-collapse Lebanon.
"This is a tribute to the strength and spirit of a people who endure, particularly the women whose courage and hope shine in the darkest moments. Through Arzé’s story, I want to share the essence of Beirut, a city that, like its people, continues to resist, fight, and claim the future it deserves," said director Mira Shaib, whose debut feature premiered globally at the Beijing International Film Festival, followed by its North American premiere at the Tribeca Festival.
Since then, it has been screened at the Lebanese Film Festival in France, the Arab World Festival of Montreal, the Newport Beach Film Festival, the Asian World Film Festival, and Cine Fem 12. It is set to be shown soon at the Cairo International Film Festival, Carthage Film Festival, Women Days Film Festival, and the Mostra de València.
The Academy Award nominations will be announced on Jan. 17, 2025, with the awards ceremony scheduled for March 2.
