🎬 “The Stories” to Represent Egypt at the 2027 Oscars
The Egyptian committee responsible for selecting the country’s submission for the 2027 Academy Awards has chosen “The Stories,” directed by Abu Bakr Shawky, to represent Egypt at the 99th edition of the Oscars.
The film received the highest number of votes during both stages of the selection process, securing its place as Egypt’s submission in the Best International Feature Film category.
“The Stories” led the voting from the first stage before maintaining its position during the final round, in which four films made the shortlist.
🗳️ 22 Votes in the First Round and 14 in the Shortlist
During the first stage of voting, “The Stories” received 22 votes, giving it the highest number among the films considered by the committee.
Following the first round, the four films with the highest vote totals advanced to a shortlist, after which committee members conducted a second vote to determine Egypt’s final submission.
In the second stage, “The Stories” received 14 votes, again securing the largest number among the four shortlisted films.
The result confirmed the film as Egypt’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Oscars.
🎥 A 53-Member Committee Selected Egypt’s Submission
The selection committee consisted of 53 members, while 11 members apologized for being unable to participate in the voting process.
The committee considered Egyptian films produced between September 2025 and September 2026, with 36 films initially included in the selection process.
Before voting began, “Life After Siham” was excluded because of the nationality listed in its official files, which was considered inconsistent with the eligibility regulations for the Egyptian submission.
📋 Discussions Over Transparency and Selection Procedures
The committee held extensive discussions about the mechanisms used to select Egypt’s Oscar submission, with particular attention to the importance of neutrality and transparency when evaluating films that meet the eligibility requirements.
The committee was chaired by director Masoud Foda, head of the Egyptian Film Professions Syndicate, while members discussed various aspects of the selection process and the criteria that should guide the final decision.
The discussions reflected the significance of the Egyptian submission, as the selected film becomes one of the works representing Egyptian cinema before an international film industry audience.
⚠️ Sayed Fouad Raises Concerns About Egyptian Cinema
The committee’s discussions also included broader questions about the current state of Egyptian film production.
Screenwriter Sayed Fouad, president of the Luxor African Film Festival, argued that Egyptian cinema is facing a difficult period, pointing to the number of films produced during the relevant period as well as what he described as their overall level.
According to Fouad’s assessment, the number and level of production reflect a decline that Egyptian cinema has not experienced throughout its history, with the exception of the period affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
🎞️ A Call for Greater Support for the Film Industry
Fouad’s comments also included a call for greater attention to supporting the Egyptian film industry in future production cycles.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening the industry because Egyptian films contribute to the way the country’s cinema is presented both domestically and internationally.
The discussion therefore extends beyond the selection of one film for the Oscars to broader questions about the state of Egyptian filmmaking and the support needed to develop future productions.
🌟 Four Decades of Egyptian Oscar Submissions
The selection of “The Stories” comes within a long history of Egyptian participation in the Oscars, spanning roughly four decades of submissions and attempts to compete in the Best International Feature Film category.
Over the years, Egypt has selected a wide range of films to represent the country at the Academy Awards, with each new submission becoming part of the broader history of Egyptian cinema’s relationship with the Oscars.
“The Stories” now begins its own journey toward the 99th Academy Awards after securing the confidence of the majority of committee members in both stages of the selection process.
🏆 “The Stories” Begins a New Chapter for Egyptian Cinema
The selection of “The Stories” represents another chapter in Egypt’s Oscar journey after the film led the voting in both stages of the committee’s selection process.
As the film moves forward toward the 2027 Oscars, the selection has also sparked a wider conversation about the current state of Egyptian cinema, the future of local production and the importance of supporting films capable of representing Egypt both at home and internationally.
What do you think of “The Stories” being selected to represent Egypt at the 2027 Oscars? Do you think the film can advance further in the competition? 🎬🏆
