Despite being nominated for the " Palme d'Or " award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival , the film 's consideration as candidate for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards was an occasion for considerable controversy . In late 2002 , producer Humbert Balsan authorized the US distributor of the film to release a statement which stated that Balsan had asked the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences if the film could run for best foreign language picture . According to Balsan , the answer was no , because " Palestine is not a state we recognize in our rules . " However , spokesperson John Pavlik states that the Academy had never made a decision on that issue because Suleiman had never submitted his film . Critics like '' The Electronic Intifada '' and others , claim that the Academy did make a decision , and that it was based on political considerations
2002 Cannes Film Festival
2002 Cannes Film Festival
Divine Intervention (film)