Syria selects "The Other Side of the Sun" for 99th Academy Awards

The Syrian committee responsible for nominating films for the Academy Awards has selected "The Other Side of the Sun" by director Tawfiq Sabouni to represent Syria in the International Feature Film category for the 99th edition of the awards.

New selection following political shifts

The General Cinema Institution announced the choice via its official account, noting that this is the first work picked by the new Syrian committee accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This selection follows recent political changes and a shift in power within the country.

The institution confirmed that the film's final eligibility and acceptance into the official competition remain subject to decisions by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, based on established rules and procedures.

Documentary focuses on Saydnaya survivors

"The Other Side of the Sun" belongs to the creative documentary genre. It explores the experiences of several survivors from Saydnaya prison through their testimonies and memories of detention. Five survivors participate in reenacting details of their daily lives inside the prison, attempting to recover the traces of that experience on their bodies and memory.

Sabouni’s cinematic background

The film extends Sabouni’s cinematic career. He left Syria for Belgium to study cinema and obtained a master's degree in film directing from the National Higher Institute for Cinematic Studies. In 2023, he presented "Without a Homeland," which he wrote and directed; it was selected for the Student Academy Awards.

"The Other Side of the Sun" received support from the Red Sea Film Fund. Its world premiere took place at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2026, within the Panorama section.

This nomination marks the beginning of a new phase in the film's international journey, pending the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' decision regarding its eligibility and acceptance into the official competition.