AMMAN — Jordan has withdrawn Sareen Hairabedian’s documentary My Sweet Land as its official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, reportedly following pressure from Azerbaijan, according to Deadline.
The award-winning documentary centers on 11-year-old Vrej, a boy who dreams of becoming a dentist in his village in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). Jordan’s selection of the film stirred controversy in Azerbaijan, where its portrayal of displaced Armenians was seen as overtly sympathetic to the Armenian side of the conflict, sparking diplomatic tension.
Reports indicate that Azerbaijan’s government reached out to Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, urging it to reconsider the film’s selection, which subsequently led to Jordan’s Royal Film Commission withdrawing the submission.
Sources at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences confirmed to Deadline that My Sweet Land is no longer Jordan’s entry for Best International Feature Film, leaving the country without a contender in that category for the 97th Academy Awards.
Director Sareen Hairabedian and producer Azza Hourani expressed their disappointment, stating, “This is devastating news for our team. An emotional, intimate story of a child’s love for his home and family has been banned and silenced. As documentary filmmakers, this censorship strengthens our resolve to share Vrej’s story, reflecting the experiences of countless children around the world who deserve the freedom to dream without the threat of war.”
Following the withdrawal, the Academy informed the filmmakers that they could still submit My Sweet Land for Best Documentary Feature consideration, provided they met the standard qualifications. The team is now preparing a qualifying run in the U.S.
The film will have its North American premiere at DOC NYC on November 16 and 17, followed by a qualifying theatrical release at Laemmle Theatres in Los Angeles, beginning November 29. “We remain committed to sharing our truthful story, undeterred by the obstacles we face,” Hairabedian and Hourani shared with Deadline.
The filmmakers added, “Our understanding is that Jordan withdrew the film to maintain diplomatic ties with Azerbaijan after a formal complaint. We also learned that following My Sweet Land’s premiere in Jordan at the Amman International Film Festival, Azerbaijan’s embassy filed a complaint to prevent its public screening. The film, celebrated just weeks earlier at the festival, was suddenly banned in one of its home countries.”
My Sweet Land won three awards at the Amman International Film Festival in July 2024: the Jury Award for Best Arab Documentary, the Audience Award, and the International Film Critics Award (FIPRESCI). Its premiere took place in June at Sheffield DocFest, the U.K.’s prestigious nonfiction festival, where it was nominated for the International First Feature Award.
