"A Sad and Beautiful World" Selected by Lebanon as Oscar Candidate

Lebanon has selected Cyril Aris’ romantic drama "A Sad and Beautiful World" as its candidate for Best International Feature Film in the 98th Academy Awards.

The Beirut-set drama world premiered in Venice parallel section Giornate degli Autori (previously known as Venice Days) in September, where it won the audience voted People’s Choice Award.

The movie stars Hasan Akil and Mounia Akl as childhood sweethearts Nino and Yasmina, who lose sight of one another, to reunite in their 20s, with their relationship developing in step with Lebanon’s tumultuous history.

"A Sad and Beautiful World" marked a return to the big screen for Akl who has focused on directing in recent years with credits including "Costa Brava," "Lebanon," "Boiling Point," "The Responder," and the upcoming dynasty drama "House of Guinness".

Akil was previously seen in "Memory Box," while other cast members include Julia Kassar, Camille Salameh, Tino Karam, and Nadyn Chalhoub.

"A Sad and Beautiful World" is Aris’ first fiction feature after documentaries "The Swing" (2018), which premiered at Karlovy Vary, and "Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano" (2023), which won a Special Jury Mention at Karlovy Vary and screened at BFI London, CPH:DOX, DOC NYC, and over 80 festivals worldwide.

The movie is produced by Georges Schoucair at Abbout Productions (Lebanon), Jen Goyne Blake and April Shih at Diversity Hire (USA) and Georg Neubert and Jasper Wiedhöft at Reynard Films (Germany).

It is co-produced with Sunnyland Film, a member of ART and The Red Sea Fund, a Red Sea International Film Festival initiative.

"A Sad and Beautiful World" received the support of Fonds Image de la Francophonie, Doha Film Institute, Visions Sud Est with the support of the SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), the Atlas Workshops and the Lebanese Film Fund (an initiative organized by Fondation Liban Cinema, funded by the European Union).

Following its buzzy Venice premiere, the film screens next at at the Hamburg Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Seminci – Valladolid among other upcoming events.

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