The Federal Office of Culture (OFC) confirmed on Thursday that the film «Iraqi Odyssey» will be Switzerland’s official entry to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the “Best Foreign Film” category for 2016.
Samirs 3D-documentary «Iraqi Odyssey» shows Iraqis as secular, cultured and open to the world in contrast to how they are normally portrayed in the media.
The OFC called it “a film that gives a unique insight into a country marked by war and caricatured by the stereotypes in the media”.
The 162-minute documentary film celebrated its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014 and was screened at the Berlinale in the Panorama section in February 2015. The Swiss film, coproduced with Germany, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates has distributors in a number of European countries. Samir’s film starts in cinemas in Germany on September 24 (distributor: NFP), and in Austria in mid-October (distributor: Polyfilm). World sales are with Autlook Filmsales.
Director Samir, born in Baghdad in 1955, is delighted about the decision. “After the astonishing success of “Iraqi Odyssey” in Swiss cinemas, I am all the more excited about the jury’s selection. In doing so, it sets a courageous example, representing an open-minded Switzerland among the Oscar contenders. And for that, I would like to express my sincere gratitude.”
The list of films nominated for Oscars in each category will be published by the Academy in January 2016. The awards ceremony will be held February 28 2016 in Los Angeles.
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