'Omar' Oscar nomination a win for Palestinian film industry

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences met for the 86th Oscars, Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir hosted an all-night party in Amman, hoping Hany Abu-Assad’s "Omar" would win the trophy for best foreign film. “We are burning the midnight candle and crossing our fingers,” she told Al-Monitor before the results were known in the very early hours of March 3. Jacir’s late-night party echoed a similar party she held eight years ago in Ramallah when another Abu-Assad film, "Paradise Now," was also up for an Oscar.

"Omar" did not win the award, which went to the Italian film "The Great Beauty." Jacir, whose latest film “When I Saw You” has been well-received around the world, insists that “the fact that Hany made it this far and that Palestine was represented despite attempts to keep Palestinian voices out of the mainstream is a major achievement.”

Saed Andoni of Dar Films wasn't surprised that "Omar" did not win an Oscar. Speaking to Al-Monitor from his studio in Ramallah before the results were known, Andoni predicted that the Palestinian film would not make it. “These prizes are political,” he argued, stressing that being nominated is an “important win for Palestinian cinema that has been forcing itself on all festivals.” Andoni, who's in the final phase of producing "The Wanted 18," a co-production with France and Canada to be released in June, highlighted the economic side of the cinema business. “The importance of 'Omar' is that it was produced almost exclusively by private Palestinian funding.”

Funding of films is a familiar subject to Palestinian film director and philanthropist Omar al-Qattan, who worked with Palestinian director Michel Khleifi to produce a number of award-winning films. Both directors set up Sindibad Films, which has produced a number of acclaimed Palestinian films. Khleifi’s "Wedding in Galilee" won the International Critics Prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, an award that helped establish Khleifi and brought in international money for future films.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/03/omar-hany-oscars-hollywood-palestine.html#ixzz2vIzkMv00