Riyadh:A record twelve films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation have entered the race for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. These films represent a diverse range of countries spanning Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa, and Asia.

According to Saudi Press Agency, eleven of the films have been chosen as the official submissions by their respective countries. These films include "A Matter of Life and Death," "Roqia," "Soumsoum," "The Night of the Stars," "The Stories," "Guria," "Four Seasons in Java," "Sink," "Strawberries," "Ben'Imana," "We Are All Strangers," and "The Other Side of the Sun." Additionally, "Angh," which won the Platform Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, is among the select international festival prize winners eligible to submit directly for Oscar consideration under the new Academy rules.

Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, expressed pride in this achievement, noting that the selection of these films by their countries as official submissions is a significant recognition of the filmmakers' talents and the impactful stories emerging from the regions represented. He highlighted the foundation's commitment to empowering filmmakers and supporting their creative visions from development through to international recognition.

The Red Sea Film Foundation's milestone achievement comes after a strong year at major film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, and Toronto. At the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, the foundation marked its largest presence with eight supported films, with "Angh" securing the Platform Award. Earlier in the year, "Ben'Imana," now Rwanda's official submission, won the prestigious Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

The shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category will be announced on December 15, 2026, with the nominations following on January 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 14, 2027, in Los Angeles.