Jordan Withdraws Oscar-Submitted Film Under Azerbaijani Pressure

Jordan has withdrawn Sarin Hayrapetyan's documentary film "Home Sweet Home," which was submitted for the Oscar's "Best International Feature Film" category. Deadline reports that the decision was made under pressure from Azerbaijan.

"Home Sweet Home" tells the story of 11-year-old Vrej, who dreams of becoming a dentist in his village located in Nagorno-Karabakh. When war breaks out again, Vrej and his family are forced to leave, only to return to their devastated homeland after the war ends.

According to Deadline's article, Jordan's selection of the film sparked a wave of protests in Azerbaijan, where the painful stories of those affected by military actions against the Armenian population were viewed as an anti-Azerbaijani stance.

Media sources indicate that the Azerbaijani government approached Jordan's Foreign Ministry, requesting a review of the film's selection. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry, in turn, exerted pressure on the Jordanian Film Commission regarding the film’s withdrawal, which ultimately occurred, resulting in Jordan not competing in the "Best International Feature Film" category.

Director Sarin Hayrapetyan and producer Azza Hurani expressed their disappointment and stated, "This is very sad news for our team. The emotional, personal story of a child's love for his home and family has been banned and silenced. As documentary filmmakers, this censorship compels us more than ever to share the story of Vrej, the main character of 'Home Sweet Home,' which reflects the experiences of countless contemporary children around the world who deserve to dream freely, without threats of war and conflict."

After Jordan withdrew the film from the "Best International Feature Film" category, the Academy informed filmmakers that they could submit "Home Sweet Home" for the "Best Documentary Feature" category if they follow standard selection procedures. The crew has tried to organize a pre-selection phase in the United States.

Hayrapetyan and Hurani noted that they are now organizing the film's premiere in the U.S., which will take place at Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles starting from November 29. "We aim to share our true story despite the existing obstacles," they said.

The film "Home Sweet Home" received three awards at the International Film Festival in Amman in July, including the jury prize for Best Arab Documentary, the Audience Award, and the International Cinephile's Prize (FIPRESCI).

The premiere of the film took place in June at the Sheffield Documentary Festival, a prestigious documentary film festival in the UK, where it was nominated for "Best International Debut."

According to the film's script, 11-year-old Vrej grew up in the Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh, witnessing the hardships and devastation of wars. His grandmother predicts that her grandson will one day become a participant in the war. The film shows how a child's dreams of childhood are endangered when his real life becomes filled with militarized education and violence.

The Jordanian Film Commission has yet to comment on the decision.