Jordan has officially nominated Helwa Ya Ardi (My Sweet Land), a feature documentary produced by Jordanian Azza Hourani and directed by Sareen Hairabedian, to compete in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards.

The award-winning film, written and directed by Hairabedian, who grew up in Jordan, tells the story of 11-year-old Vrej, who dreams of becoming a dentist but is forced to leave his home and participate in a war following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The film follows Vrej through times of war and peace and explores the themes of youth, masculinity, and connection to the homeland.

The Royal Film Commission of Jordan, which is responsible for selecting the country’s Oscars submission, announced the decision on Wednesday. A panel of six independent experts from the visual and audiovisual sectors made the selection. The 2025 Oscars ceremony is scheduled for next March.

Helwa Ya Ardi marks Hairabedian’s first feature film. The documentary earned widespread recognition
at the fifth Amman International Film Festival – First Film, winning three awards, including the Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature and the International Federation of Film Critics Award for Best Arab Documentary Feature. It was also nominated for participation in the 2024 Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival.

The film received a development grant from the Jordan Film Fund through the Royal Film Commission in 2021, and garnered support from international bodies, including the European TV channel and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture.

Source: Jordan News Agency