NNA - Minister of Culture, Dr. Ghassan Salamé, announced the nomination of the film “A Sad and Beautiful World” (نجوم الأمل والألم) by director Cyril Aris to represent Lebanon in the 2026 Academy Awards competition for Best International Feature Film, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States.

In a statement, the Ministry of Culture said the nomination followed the recommendation of a special committee composed of leading film critics and experts in the cinematic arts. 

The committee’s selection was based on a set of criteria, including the film’s subject matter, narrative approach, directorial style, screenplay, technical execution, actor direction, camera movement, and overall cinematic rhythm.