Jeddah: Saudi Arabia has selected Of Life and Death, directed by Ba Tahaf, as its official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 2027.
Written by and starring Sarah Taibah alongside Yagoub Alfarhan, the 2025 film is a romantic dark comedy set in contemporary Jeddah.
Taibah plays Hayat, a woman who believes a family curse will cause her death when she turns 30. Alfarhan portrays Yousef, a heart surgeon whose unusually slow heartbeat has affected his relationships.
Their meeting forms the basis of a story that examines superstition, mortality, relationships, and the influence of fear on personal decisions.
The film premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2025 before reaching Saudi cinemas in June 2026.
At the 12th Saudi Film Festival, it received a Jury Special Mention, while Taibah won the Best Actress award for her performance.
Film Clinic, Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Arabia Pictures backed the production, with support from the Red Sea Fund.
Its selection marks Saudi Arabia's ninth submission to the Academy Awards' international feature category.
The Academy is scheduled to announce the 15 film shortlist on December 15, 2026, followed by nominations on January 21, 2027. The awards ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027.
The Oscar submission comes amid changes to Saudi Arabia's cultural and entertainment sectors under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 programme.
The government has sought to reduce its dependence on oil by developing tourism, entertainment and other industries. These policies have included easing some social restrictions, expanding public entertainment and encouraging investment in film production.
Saudi Arabia lifted its 35 year ban on cinemas in 2018, allowing commercial theatres to reopen and creating opportunities for domestic filmmakers and distributors.
The country's growing participation in international film events has formed part of efforts to establish a Saudi film industry and attract overseas productions.
However, the expansion of its film sector has coincided with regional instability that has affected major cultural events.
In September, the Red Sea Film Foundation announced that the sixth Red Sea International Film Festival, originally scheduled for December 3 to 12, 2026 in Jeddah, would be postponed until the final quarter of 2027.
The decision came amid continuing security tensions in the Middle East, although organisers cited scheduling and logistical considerations rather than directly attributing the postponement to the regional conflict.
The foundation said its other initiatives, including the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Labs, would continue supporting filmmakers despite the festival's postponement.
The selection of Of Life and Death, also reported under the English title A Matter of Life and Death, therefore comes as Saudi Arabia continues pursuing international recognition for its cinema while adjusting some cultural events in response to changing circumstances.
The film must still pass the Academy's selection process before it can secure a nomination, with the final nominees due to be announced in January.
