Anas Ba Tahaf’s romantic comedy A Matter Of Life And Death has been submitted by Saudi Arabia for best international feature film at the 99th Academy Awards.
The film was selected by a committee appointed to determine the Kingdom’s official submission and announced by the Saudi Film Commission.
Set in Jeddah, it follows a superstitious young woman who is convinced she is cursed and a shy doctor with a heart condition that causes him to suppress his emotions. Despite this, love blooms between the unlikely couple.
The cast is led by local stars Sarah Taibah, known for Mandoob, and Yaqoub Al Farhan, Scales and Norah. Taibah also wrote the script.
The film had its world premiere at Red Sea International Film Festival in December 2025, before opening theatrically across Saudi Arabia on June 25 – its release having being delayed by the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran War at the end of February.
It later received a jury special mention at the 12th Saudi Film Festival, where Sarah Taibah won the Golden Palm for best acting.
Director Ba Tahaf is known for 2021 drama Fay’s Palette, which was one of the first Saudi features to be made following the lifting of the country’s 35-year cinema ban in 2017. He previously worked as co-producer, editor and first assistant director on Mahmoud Sabbagh’s Barakah Meets Barakah, which was Saudi’s second-ever entry to the Oscars in 2016.
The Kingdom has previously submitted eight films to the international category of the Academy Awards but has yet to make the shortlist.
A Matter Of Life And Death is produced by Mohamed Hefzy for Film Clinic, Gianluca Chakra for Front Row Filmed Entertainment, and Abdulelah Alahmary and Ahmad Taema for Arabia Pictures, with support from the Red Sea Fund.
Front Row Filmed Entertainment handles international sales.
AMPAS will reveal the 15 features on the best international feature film shortlist on December 15. The five nominees will be announced January 21. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 14.
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