Naji Abu Nowar's Theeb Receives a Double BAFTA Nomination

Back to Press Releases

Ahead of the 2016 Oscars® Nomination Announcements

Naji Abu Nowar's Theeb Receives a Double BAFTA Nomination



In another boost for the Jordanian film Theeb, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has revealed its full list of nominations for 2016 where Naji Abu Nowar'spicture pulled two nominations in two different categories; Best Film Not in the English Language and Outstanding Debut by British Writer, Director or Producer (Abu Nowar-writer/director and producer Robert Lloy).

This comes only a few days after Theeb made it into the Oscars® race being shortlisted among the nine films to be considered for the Best Foreign-Language Film Award in the 88th Academy Awards. The list has been narrowed down from the 80 submissions that were originally considered for the category. The shortlisted films will advance to the next phase of voting for the category to be whittled down to the official five nominees which will be revealed on January 14th, 2016.

Since its release in international film festivals in August 2014, Theeb has been screened in 25 countries, won 18 film awards, including Best Director at the Venice Film Festival, and most recently 3 awards at the 12th Trans-Saharan International Film Festival in Zagora (Morocco).

Recently, the award-winning film had a commercial release in the US and garnered more than $136,000 in ticket sales within five weeks. Theeb was also released in 12 countries in the Arab world and Europe and is set to have a limited re-release in several Arab countries just in time for its bid for the Oscars®.

Theeb is Jordanian director/writer Naji Abu Nowar's first feature film which he co-scripted with Bassel Ghandour. Set in the Arabian Desert of 1916, the film follows Theeb, a young Bedouin boy, and his brother Hussein as they leave the safety of their tribe to venture on a treacherous journey at the dawn of the Great Revolt. If Theeb is to survive he must quickly learn about adulthood, trust and betrayal.