Jihadist drama “Timbuktu” will be Mauritania’s entry into the foreign language race for the Oscars. Director Abderrahmane Sissako ’s emotional drama about the occupation of Timbuktu by Islamic rebels had its world premiere in competition at Cannes. Though representing the Malian city, the film was shot in Mauritania. The Hollywood Reporter ’s critic Deborah Young called the project “boldly unorthodox” in her review of the film . Cohen Media Group picked up U.S. rights to the film during Cannes.
