JEDDAH: Saudi feature film “Scales” has been chosen to represent the Kingdom at the upcoming 93rd Academy Awards (Oscars).
Directed by Shahd Amin, the movie, also known as “Lady of the Sea,” will compete in the best international feature film category and was nominated by a special committee and selected by the Saudi Film Commission to be the Kingdom’s entry.
The flick will go through several screening stages before a final list — chosen by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which will be awarding the Oscars — is revealed. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on April 25.
“Scales” was shown for the first time at the Venice Film Festival and was awarded the Verona Film Prize for most innovative movie. It has been screened at other international festivals and featured at cinemas throughout Saudi Arabia.
“Scales,” also known as “Lady of the Sea,” was nominated by a special committee and selected by the Saudi Film Commission to be the Kingdom’s entry at the 93rd Academy Awards. (Supplied)
The film takes place in an atmosphere of fantasy and dystopia where a young girl is confronted with the difficult decision to take matters into her own hands and stand against her family and village tradition of sacrificing female children to mysterious creatures living in the sea.
Amin said: “This is beyond my best expectations, especially as an Arab director.”
She noted that her movie had been made as a fun take on cultural norms and traditions that died out years ago and was also aimed at driving dialogue about the roles of women in society and the Arab world.
“The production of the film was a personal experience for me, and I am very proud that it has been chosen to represent my country on the global stage.
“I hope that the film’s wonderful journey will serve as an inspiration to my fellow Saudi directors to move forward with their successful experiences,” she added.
