Syria's White Helmets members to attend Academy Awards

Two members of Syria's White Helmets humanitarian organization, which is the subject of an Academy Award-nominated film,are set to attendthe Oscars Feb. 26 in Los Angeles.

The head of the group, Raed Saleh, and the cinematographer behindthe short film, Khaled Khatib, have received U.S. visas following a halt to the U.S. administration's immigration order,which affected those travelling from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran and Syria.

We remain cautious about the physical part of entering the country.- Joanna Natasegara, The White Helmets producer

The White Helmets, nominated for best documentary short, follows the dangerous and life-saving work of emergency rescue teams in the middle of Syria's ongoingcivil war.

Saleh told the AFP news agencythat they're not sure how difficult travel will be and"don't want to have problems at the borders or the airport."

"They both have valid visas," said producer Joanna Natasegara. "We remain cautious about the physical part of entering the country."

While the filmmakers behind The White Helmets hope to raise awareness about the subject matter through the group'spresence at the awards, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi is taking a stand against the policy through his absence.

Despite a halt to the executive order, Farhadi, who directed the Oscar-nominated film The Salesman and won an Academy Award for A Separation in 2012, saidhe will not attendthis year's ceremonyin protest. The star of The Salesman, Iranian actressTaraneh Alidoosti,is also skipping the show. The filmis competing in the foreign language category.

U.S. President Donald Trumpsaid a new version of the executive order could come as early as this week.

• Full list of 2017 Oscar nominations