DUBAI: And the winner might be… Lebanon.
For the first time ever a Lebanese film has been nominated for an Oscars Academy Award.
Ziad Doueri’s “The Insult” has made it through to the final five in the Foreign Language Film category of the Academy Awards 2018, up against films from Chile, Russia, Hungary and Sweden.
“The Insult” (“L’Insulte”) is a tense Beirut-set courtroom thriller starring Adel Karam, Kamel El Basha and Camille Salameh. It is about an insult being blown out of all proportion, resulting in a Lebanese Christian and a Palestinian refugee battling it out in court.
The film, which picked up the Best Actor award for El Basha at the Venice Film Festival, was the 14th film to be submitted to the Oscars by Lebanon since 1978, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Other notable titles include Nadine Labaki’s 2011 drama “Where Do We Go Now?” that was widely expected to be nominated.
The nomination is remarkable considering the furor that erupted in Lebanon surrounding “The Insult,” including a boycott campaign launched against the film due to Doueri’s previous feature film, “The Attack,” having partly been filmed in Israel. Doueri was convinced “The Insult” wouldn’t even get released in Lebanon, he told The Hollywood Reporter.
The four other films rounding out the Foreign Language Film category of the oscars are “A Fantastic Woman” (Chile), “Loveless” (Russia), “On Body and Soul” (Hungary), and “The Square” (Sweden).
The Oscars Academy Awards 2018 takes place on Mar. 4 in Los Angeles.
Lebanon heads to the Oscars for the first time with “The Insult” nomination
Lebanon heads to the Oscars for the first time with “The Insult” nomination
Essex man takes on charity endurance challenge for children in Gaza
- Mark Watson, 63, is undertaking a “virtual Sumud” journey from his Essex home town in Harlow to Gaza, covering 2,287 miles
LONDON: A man in England has launched a demanding charity challenge to raise funds for children affected by the war in Gaza.
Mark Watson, 63, is undertaking a “virtual sumud” journey from his Essex home town in Harlow to Gaza, covering 3,680 km running, walking, swimming, cycling and rowing.
He is raising money for Medical Aid for Palestinians, a UK-based humanitarian organization that provides healthcare to Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied territories.
“I have felt helpless day after day seeing images of countless children in Gaza with broken bodies and missing limbs and witnessing their unbearable suffering,” Watson said on his JustGiving page.
“I have been inspired by the courage of those who took part in the global sumud flotilla and all of the activists who have put their lives and freedom at risk supporting the Palestinian people and so I am raising funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians.
“My challenge is to complete a virtual sumud from Harlow, where I live, to Gaza. Running, walking, swimming, cycling and rowing I will cover the 2,287 miles as quickly as I can.
“I am an unfit, overweight 63-year-old, so I’m not going to break any records, but the Arabic word Sumud means steadfastness and perseverance, and I will give it my all.
Watson added: “I hope to be joined by people I love and admire along the way, so please support my fundraiser. Every donation, however small, will help save the lives of Palestinians.”
As of Jan. 3, his fundraising effort had reached 12 per cent of its £5,000 ($6,733) target.
The war in Gaza began after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza, which local health authorities say has resulted in the deaths of more than 71,000 Palestinians, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and a severe humanitarian crisis.
International aid agencies have repeatedly said that children are among the most affected, facing injury, displacement, malnutrition and limited access to medical care.
Watson said he was inspired by activists and humanitarian efforts supporting Palestinians and hopes his challenge can make a small contribution to saving lives.
