Palestinian film denied Oscars entry

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the selection committee behind the Oscars, has controversially denied a Palestinian film entry into next year's Best Foreign Language Film category, citing that it originates from a country not formally recognised by the United Nations.

Despite favourable reviews at a string of film festivals this year, Divine Intervention has been left off the list of 54 entries for this year's foreign-language Oscar.

Palestinian human rights organisations are appalled by what they see as the Academy's use of an out-of-date rule that amounts to censorship. 'Obviously we are disappointed,' said Feda Abdelhadi Nasser, from the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN. 'What it comes down to is that the Palestinian people, in addition to the denial of other right ... are now being denied the ability to compete in a competition that judges artistic and cultural expression.'

Shown recently at the London Film Festival, Divine Intervention, directed by Elia Suleiman, is a simple and elegiac comedy that tells the story of a love affair between two people on opposite sides of an Israeli military checkpoint.

It was the first Palestinian film to compete at the Cannes Film Festival, where this year it won the international critics' prize. Similarly, at the European Film Awards Divine Intervention was awarded the Best Foreign Film title.

In its defence, the Academy has said the film was never formally submitted for consideration. Spokesman John Pavlik said the film's representatives contacted the Academy's executive director, Bruce Davis, in September to enquire if the film would be eligible. Davis told the producer, Humbert Balsan, it would not accept the nomination, since it does not recognise Palestine as a country.

The Academy says it consults the UN list of member nations when it determines if a film is eligible to represent a country. Occasionally, it will consider regions the UN does not consider countries, 'such as Puerto Rico, Taiwan or Hong Kong'.

According to the Academy's rules, Divine Intervention also did not satisfy other requirements, including the formation of a selection committee in its country and exhibiting the film in a native cinema for at least a week. Mark Johnson, chair of the foreign language film selection committee, said the decision was in keeping with Academy rules.

But Keith Icove, vice-president of Avatar Films, the film's US distributor, said Davis's response prompted the company not to submit the film for consideration because its backers knew it would be rejected.

Hussein Ibish, communications director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Washington DC, said the Academy should review the entry rules. 'I think it is unfortunate that such an acclaimed film is not being allowed to compete,' he said.

'This is a surprising move on the part of the Academy, given that events in Israel and Palestine are so sensitive. A nomination for Divine Intervention would have sent out a message of good intent.'

A nomination for the low-budget Divine Intervention' could help secure much needed international distribution. As yet, the film has mainly been seen by audiences at film festivals.