Saudi Arabia has officially picked Hijra, a deeply moving drama by filmmaker Shahad Ameen, as its entry for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
The announcement, made by the Saudi Film Commission earlier this week, has sparked excitement among cinephiles and filmmakers alike. Many see this as another big step for the country’s fast-growing film industry — one that’s been making waves globally over the past few years.
A Journey Across Generations and Landscapes
Hijra — which literally means migration — tells the story of a grandmother and her granddaughter who set out across Saudi Arabia in search of a missing teenage girl. Their journey unfolds against the country’s breathtaking landscapes, from Taif to AlUla, revealing not just physical distance but emotional discovery too.
The film, which took 55 days to shoot across eight cities, has already earned critical acclaim. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it bagged the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film — a clear sign of its growing international appeal.
Director Shahad Ameen, known for her earlier work Scales (Sayidat Al-Bahr), says Hijra is about “female identity and the emotional migration women experience between generations.” In interviews, she’s described it as a story about “freedom, legacy, and the quiet strength of women who keep moving forward — even when the world around them resists.”
A Milestone for Saudi Cinema
While Saudi Arabia has previously submitted several films to the Oscars, none have yet made it to the final nominations. Still, Hijra feels different — more confident, more grounded, and more in sync with the new cinematic voice emerging from the Kingdom.
The submission is also a reflection of Saudi Arabia’s growing investment in creative industries under Vision 2030. From production hubs in Neom and AlUla to an increasing presence at global film festivals, the country’s focus on storytelling has never been sharper.
International critics have praised Hijra for its cinematography and subtle emotional tone. One review from Variety called it “a poetic meditation on loss and resilience — told through the eyes of women who have long been silent.”
Looking Ahead
As Hijra heads to the Oscars race, it faces tough competition from entries across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The shortlist for Best International Feature Film will be announced later this year, followed by the final nominations early next year.
Whether or not Hijra makes it all the way, one thing’s certain — it’s already made history by pushing Saudi storytelling further into the global spotlight.
Because sometimes, the most powerful migrations aren’t just physical. They’re emotional, generational, and deeply human.
