Jordanian film Theeb is officially a few yards away from the Oscars® after making it to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' nominations list. Listed among five international films, Theeb is vying for the Best Foreign-Language Film Award. The winner will be announced on February 28th at the 88th Academy Awards® ceremony.

This comes only a few days after the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has revealed its full list of nominations for 2016 where Naji Abu Nowar's film Theeb 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).

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).
Most 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, coinciding with the Oscars® race.

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.