Palestine selects documentary ‘Citizen Osama’ as its Oscar 2027 submission

Palestine has selected the documentary “Citizen Osama” by director Ahmed Hassouna as its submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, to be held in 2027, as BroadcastPro ME reports.

The selection was announced by Palestinian culture minister Imad Hamdan, following the recommendation of an independent committee of film professionals. The 69-minute documentary was shot in northern Gaza during the war and follows Osama Al-Ashi, a former artistic photographer who turns into a war documentarian as he tries to protect his wife and newborn son — documenting the destruction around him and seeking food, water and other family needs amid hunger, losses and displacement.

The film had its world premiere at the 83rd Venice Film Festival in September (Venice Open section, out of competition). It is a Palestine-France production (Coorigines Production, Masharawi Fund for Films & Filmmakers, Filcam for Media Production), part of director Rashid Masharawi’s “From Ground Zero+” initiative. Hassouna had previously contributed “Sorry Cinema” to the “From Ground Zero” anthology — Palestine’s submission for Oscar 2025, which made the shortlist.

According to BroadcastPro ME, this is Palestine’s 19th submission since 2003; it follows Annemarie Jacir’s “Palestine 36,” the Oscar 2026 submission that made the shortlist. The 99th Oscars ceremony takes place on March 14, 2027, with shortlists announced December 15, 2026 and nominations on January 21, 2027.