Short Film Ave Maria Nominated for an Oscar

The comedy Ave Maria by director Basil Khalil has received more than ten awards and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Now the film is nominated for the most important award of the industry. Ave Maria can hope to win an Academy Award in the category Short Film (Live Action).

The Robert Bosch Stiftung supported the realization of the movie as a pilot project of the Film Prize for the Cooperation between young German and Arab filmmakers. The prize gives them the opportunity to work on a joint project and is awarded to three production teams during the Berlin International Filmfestival.

Interview on the Oscar nomination

On the occasion of a film screening during the Berlinale director Basil Khalil travelled to Berlin. In the interview he talks about his experiences in the film industry and what has changed since the Oscar nomination.

The Story

The silent routine of 5 Palestinian nuns in the middle of the West Bank wilderness is disrupted when a family of Israeli settlers come knocking at their door for help after crashing into the convent’s wall. The Israelis can’t operate a phone to call for assistance due to the Sabbath laws, and the Nuns have taken a vow of silence. Together they have to come up with an unorthodox plan to help them get home