Tajikistan’s Bold Oscar Entry: ‘Black Rabbit, White Rabbit’ Shakes Up the International Film Scene
In a surprising and intriguing move, Tajikistan has chosen the enigmatic mystery drama Black Rabbit, White Rabbit as its official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Oscars. Directed by the acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Shahram Mokri, known for his innovative work such as Fish & Cat, this film is set to represent a country that has rarely been in the Oscar spotlight.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Black Rabbit, White Rabbit is a co-production between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates, filmed in both Tajik and Persian languages. This raises interesting questions about national cinema identity and the criteria for Oscar submissions. Should a film’s country of origin be defined by production support, language, or something else entirely? We’ll get back to that.
The film recently earned the Vision Asian Award at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival, signaling strong international recognition. Following this success, it is scheduled to be showcased at the BFI London Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival, further building its global profile.
Produced with the backing of Tajikfilm, the movie features a talented ensemble of Tajik actors including Babak Karimi, Hasti Mohammaï, Kibriyo Dilyobova, and Bezhan Davlyatov. The screenplay was co-written by Mokri and Nasim Ahmadpour, with Negar Eskandarfar serving as producer. This collaboration highlights a blend of regional talents and storytelling traditions.
The film’s synopsis teases a complex narrative: “A suspicious film prop, a mysterious audition, a conspiratorial road incident, and multiple rabbits intertwine in this daring and captivating drama from Tajikistan.” It follows a film armorer who suspects a prop gun might be real, an actor demanding a role on set, and a car crash victim who fears her accident was no accident at all. These seemingly unrelated threads come together through Mokri’s signature style—long, fluid takes, subtle humor, and touches of magical realism—crafting a playful yet thought-provoking meta-mystery.
This submission marks only the fourth time Tajikistan has entered a film into the international Oscar race, and the country has yet to secure a nomination. Could Black Rabbit, White Rabbit be the breakthrough? Given Mokri’s impressive track record—his debut Fish & Cat won a special award at Venice’s Orizzonti section, Invasion screened at Berlin, and Careless Crime earned the jury prize at Chicago—there’s reason to be optimistic.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is set for Sunday, March 15, and all eyes will be on the international feature category to see if this daring film can capture the attention of the Academy.
So, what do you think? Does the collaboration between Tajikistan and the UAE dilute the film’s national identity, or does it enrich the storytelling? Could this be the year Tajikistan finally breaks through at the Oscars? Share your thoughts below—let’s get the conversation started!
Check out the trailer for Black Rabbit, White Rabbit below and see for yourself what the buzz is all about.
