The Saudi Film Commission has officially selected the feature film 'Hijra' as the Kingdom’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026).
Already a critically noted production filmed across Saudi Arabia’s striking landscapes, Hijra showcases the nation’s rapidly maturing film industry and its dedication to sharing complex, deeply local stories with global cinema audiences. This choice to support an Oscars bid, signals Saudi Arabia’s continued ambition to project its cinematic voice onto the global stage.
Slated to take place on March 16, 2026, with Conan O'Brien at the helm, the 98th Academy Awards will return to Hollywood's Dolby Theatre.
Directed by acclaimed Saudi filmmaker Shahad Ameen — who previously represented the country with her debut feature, Scales (2020) — Hijra is described as a poignant road movie and a cinematic meditation on identity and womanhood.
Set in 2001, the film follows a grandmother and her two granddaughters as they embark on a spiritual journey from Southern Saudi Arabia to Makkah for a pilgrimage. The trip takes a tragic turn when one granddaughter vanishes, forcing the remaining two on a difficult desert search that uncovers long-buried family secrets and highlights intergenerational tensions.
The film has already gained significant international attention, including a screening in the Spotlight Competition at the Venice International Film Festival. Shot across nine diverse locations, including AlUla, Tabuk, and Jeddah, Hijra is a co-production that received support from major regional backers like Film AlUla, NEOM, and the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation.
Hijra now enters the competitive race for the Oscar shortlist, showcasing the richness and diversity of Saudi storytelling to a worldwide audience.
