Culture 4 min read By Mason Emerson
Syria Selects 'The Other Side of the Sun' for Oscars, First Entry Since Assad's Fall
Tawfik Sabouni's documentary 'The Other Side of the Sun,' a Berlinale Panorama premiere, will represent Syria in the best international feature film race at the 2027 Academy Awards, marking the country's first Oscar submission since the fall of Bashar Assad's regime.
Syria has chosen Tawfik Sabouni's documentary «The Other Side of the Sun» as its candidate for the best international feature film category at the 2027 Academy Awards, marking the country's first Oscar submission since the fall of Bashar Assad's regime. The selection was confirmed by the Syrian film authorities and represents a significant moment for Syrian cinema on the global stage.
The documentary, which had its world premiere in the Panorama section of this year's Berlinale, explores the harrowing reality of Saydnaya prison, a facility notorious for its role in state repression under the Assad government. Sabouni's film is described as a hybrid documentary, blending observational footage with personal narratives to shed light on the experiences of those detained and their families. Its selection signals a new chapter for Syrian cultural expression after decades of censorship and control.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, followed by the establishment of a transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has opened space for Syrian artists to engage with previously suppressed subjects. «The Other Side of the Sun» directly addresses the legacy of state violence, making its submission both an artistic and political statement. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will consider the film in the international feature category, where it will compete against entries from dozens of other countries.
Syria's participation in the Oscars race is not unprecedented, but the context of this submission is entirely new. Previous Syrian entries were often subject to government oversight, and filmmakers faced significant restrictions. This year's selection process, according to industry observers, was conducted with greater independence, reflecting the broader changes in the country's cultural landscape. The documentary's Berlinale premiere earlier this year drew attention for its unflinching portrayal of prison life and its lyrical, humanistic approach.
For Sabouni, the selection represents both a personal milestone and a national moment. The director has said in interviews that the film aims to give voice to survivors and to preserve memory at a time when Syria is reckoning with its past. The documentary's title, «The Other Side of the Sun,» evokes themes of hope and darkness, fitting for a work that examines trauma while also suggesting the possibility of renewal.
The 2027 Academy Awards ceremony will take place in March 2027, with nominations announced in January. Syria's entry will first need to be shortlisted by the Academy's international feature film committee before advancing to the final five. Regardless of the outcome, the submission itself is being celebrated by Syrian filmmakers and diaspora communities as a sign that their stories can now reach global audiences without the shadow of the old regime.
The film's journey from Saydnaya's shadows to the Oscars stage underscores how profoundly Syria's cultural sector has shifted since Assad's departure. Artists who once worked in exile or under threat are now able to submit work that directly confronts the atrocities of the past. «The Other Side of the Sun» is the first of what many hope will be a wave of Syrian films that engage with the country's recent history and its uncertain future.
As the international feature race unfolds, Syria's entry will be watched closely not only for its cinematic merits but also for what it represents: a nation using film to process its wounds and to announce its presence on the world stage. The Academy's recognition, if it comes, would amplify that message far beyond Syria's borders.
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