# Palestine Oscar submission for Citizen Osama

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/palestine-oscar-submission-for-citizen-osama
> Updated: 2026-09-06T22:59:51.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3.

Palestinian Minister of Culture Emad Hamdan announced that the film ‘Citizen Osama’, directed by Ahmed Hassouna, has been selected as the official Palestinian entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards in 2027.

Produced under the ‘From Zero Distance+’ project, the documentary follows Osama Al-Ashi, an art photographer who became a war documentarian in northern Gaza. The film tracks a year in Al-Ashi’s life, from the birth of his son in mid-2024 to the child’s first birthday, illustrating the intersection of his professional role as a journalist and his personal responsibilities as a father. 

The film, which explores themes of displacement, hunger, and trauma, was scheduled for a premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. Following its screening at the festival, the documentary has been noted for its ground-level perspective on the humanitarian crisis following the October 7, 2023, conflict. The footage depicts the destruction within Gaza and the severe hardships faced by residents, including the struggle to find basic necessities such as formula, diapers, and clean food, as well as residents digging through rubble by hand to recover the wounded and deceased.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-06: Citizen Osama documentary premieres at Venice Film Festival

The documentary ‘Citizen Osama’ premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is the Palestinian entry for the Oscars, chronicling the daily survival struggles of a father in Gaza.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/citizen-osama-documentary-premieres-at-venice-film-festival

### 2026-09-04: Palestine selects ‘Citizen Osama’ as official Oscar entry

Palestine has chosen the documentary ‘Citizen Osama’ as its official entry for the 99th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/palestine-selects-citizen-osama-as-official-oscar-entry

### 2026-08-31: Palestine selects ‘Citizen Osama’ for 2027 Oscar submission

The film ‘Citizen Osama’, directed by Ahmed Hassouna, has been chosen to represent Palestine in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/palestine-selects-citizen-osama-for-2027-oscar-submission

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Cite as: Palestine Oscar submission for Citizen Osama. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/palestine-oscar-submission-for-citizen-osama