‘Akhr el-Regal fe Halab’ short movie in Oscar shortlist

CAIRO – 22 December 2017: The Syrian short movie “Akhr el-Regal fe Halab” (Last Men in Aleppo) is the first Syrian film to be nominated for a Foreign Language Oscar.

“Akhr el-Regal fe Halab” opens in Aleppo, the famous ancient city, in the aftermath of a barrel-bomb attack carried out by a Russian aircraft. White Helmets members searched extensively the ruins of a building, and found a baby that survived the collapse. Another scene showcased a dead child with snapped neck and flopping head. The documentary, despite being mournful, is extremely important and highlights the tragic and brutal daily life in Aleppo. “Akhr el-Regal fe Halab” short movie is directed by the Syrian director Feras Fayyad.

It is worth mentioning that the Lebanese film “Qadiyya Raqm 23” (The Insult) is the first Lebanese feature film to be nominated for a Foreign Language Oscar.

The nomination is considered a huge achievement not only for Lebanese cinema but for the Arab Cinema industry as a whole.

“The Insult” revolves around Tony, played by the Lebanese actor Adel Karam and Palestinian refugee Yasser, played by Yasser el-Basha who exchanged harsh words after Yasser tried to fix a drainpipe on Tony's balcony. The clash between them leads to violence, courtroom confrontations and national attention.

“The Insult” also stars Rita Hayek, Camille Salameh, Diamand Bou Abboud, Talal Jurdi among others. The movie is written by Ziad Doueiri and Joelle Touma and directed by Ziad Doueiri.