Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Jordanian film "Theeb", Sunday competes for the Oscars' best foreign language film category, to be the first Jordanian film to proceed to the final stage towards an Oscar nomination.

Theeb will contend with Colombia's Embrace of the Serpent, France's Mustang, Hungary's Son of Saul and Denmark's A War.

Set in 1916 in the Ottoman province of Hijaz, the Jordanian film follows the journey of Theeb, a young Bedouin boy, and his brother Hussein, who guides a British officer to a secret destination, as they leave the safety of their tribe to venture on a treacherous journey at the dawn of the Great Arab Revolt.

The film’s producers collaborated with the Bedouin tribes to ensure the authentic depiction of life in the region. The cast was entirely formed from the local tribesmen, who have lived in the area for hundreds of years, after they were engaged in acting workshops in the eight months prior to principal photography. The film stars young Jacir Eid as Theeb, opposite Hussein Salameh, Hassan Mutlag, Marji Audeh and Jack Fox, the only professional actor on the cast.

Another Arab film that has made it to the Oscar's shortlist, is the Palestinian short film "Ave Maria" by Basil Khalil listed in the Live-Action Short Films section.

The 14-minute comedy film tells the story of Palestinian nuns living in the middle of the West Bank and who have their daily routine of silence and prayer disrupted when a family of Israeli settlers break down outside their convent at the beginning of the Sabbath. The family needs to get home but can't operate the phone, while the nuns have taken a vow of silence.

The 2016 Oscars winners will be announced 28 February during the 88th Academy Awards ceremony.