Tawfik Sabouni’s powerful documentary The Other Side of the Sun has been officially selected to represent Syria in the best international feature film category at the 2027 Academy Awards. The announcement marks a historic milestone for the nation, representing Syria’s very first official Oscar candidate since the fall of the regime of longtime dictator Bashar Assad in December 2024.
The poignant documentary, which first drew international critical acclaim during its world premiere in the Panorama section of the Berlinale earlier this year, highlights a pivotal cultural and political turning point for the war-torn country. Alongside the Academy Award announcement, international sales agent Andana Films revealed that New York-based distributor Icarus Films has acquired the U.S. rights to the film, paving the way for American audiences to witness its urgent narrative.
In The Other Side of the Sun, director Tawfik Sabouni journeys back to the Syrian capital of Damascus in the immediate, delicate aftermath of the Assad regime’s collapse. Upon his return, he reunites with four fellow former detainees who, like him, survived the horrors of the notorious Saidnaya prison. Through carefully staged and deeply emotional reenactments conducted directly inside the prison facility itself, the documentary transforms raw, painful memory into a tangible, enduring testimony. According to promotional materials provided by Andana Films, the film ultimately succeeds in "turning memory into testimony, revealing resilience and an unbroken will to survive."
The selection of The Other Side of the Sun was officially announced by Syria’s General Organization for Cinema. Crucially, it marks the inaugural selection made by a newly formed Syrian committee that has received official accreditation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). According to a statement released by Andana Films, this development underscores an entirely new chapter in the country’s participation in the global cinematic and international awards landscape, bringing long-suppressed perspectives onto the world stage.
"The selection of The Other Side of the Sun comes within a distinctive cinematic and humanitarian context," the General Organization for Cinema stated. "The film explores the experience of imprisonment in Saydnaya Prison, one of the most prominent detention sites associated with Syria’s recent history and collective memory during the previous decades of rule. It does so through the experience of director Tawfik Sabouni, who was previously imprisoned there, alongside four other survivors of detention."
For Sabouni, the journey of bringing the film to the screen—and now to the Oscars—carries immense emotional weight. Reflecting on the historic selection, the director shared his deep gratitude and personal connection to the project.
"I am deeply happy and moved by this selection," Sabouni commented. "This moment is the culmination of years of hard work, years during which I carried this film on my own, despite the doubts, the obstacles and the weight of such a responsibility. To see this project come to fruition today and find its place on such a stage is an immense personal and collective victory."
Sabouni emphasized that the true significance of the film extends far beyond standard artistic and cinematic milestones, serving instead as a vital vehicle for those whose voices were violently suppressed for decades.
"Beyond the artistic journey, the true significance of this selection lies in the voice it gives to those whom others have sought to silence," Sabouni continued. "The stories of the men and women who lost their lives in the prisons of the Assad regime will never be forgotten. Their memory, their suffering and their dignity will be forever etched in our minds and presented to the eyes of the world. It is to them, above all, that this selection belongs."
Following its well-received international premiere at the Berlinale, The Other Side of the Sun has maintained a strong momentum on the global festival circuit. The documentary has traveled to several prominent international film festivals, earning critical praise and notable prizes, including honors at the Amman International Film Festival in Jordan.
The international production effort behind the documentary spans multiple European entities. The Other Side of the Sun is proudly produced by France’s Dérives, alongside Habilis Productions and Clin d’Oeil Films, highlighting a collaborative European effort to bring this vital piece of contemporary Syrian history to light.
As the international awards season progresses, the path to the Academy Awards will see several key milestones. The official shortlist for the 2027 Oscar nominations is scheduled to be announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on December 15. Following the shortlist announcement, the final list of nominees will be revealed on January 21. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is set to take place in Los Angeles on March 14, where The Other Side of the Sun will hope to advance further in the race for international feature film recognition.
