The 96th Academy Awards occurred in Los Angeles on March 10, 2023. It celebrated the best in film from the past year. Dozens of actors and films were nominated across various categories, with all hoping to take home the coveted Oscars.
The ceremony isn’t just about Hollywood. The International Feature Film category allows movies from all over the world to compete for recognition. These films are predominantly not in English and represent the diverse landscape of global cinema.
Nigeria’s thriving film industry, Nollywood, has actively participated in this category several times. However, despite their efforts, no Nigerian film has yet made it to the final shortlist of five nominees for Oscar night.
Below are three films that have ever been submitted by the Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC) for consideration:
1. Lionheart – 2020
In 2019, a major milestone was reached for Nigerian cinema. “Lionheart” is a family drama directed by Genevieve Nnaji. It became the first-ever Nigerian film submitted for the prestigious International Feature Film category at the Oscars. This was a big moment. It was a turning point for Nollywood’s ability to compete globally alongside other international film industries.
However, despite the excitement, “Lionheart” was ultimately disqualified. The film didn’t meet the category’s requirement of having dialogue that is “predominantly non-English.” While the movie featured the Igbo language, only about 11 minutes of its 95-minute runtime used it.
This disqualification sparked criticism, but unfortunately, not meeting the criteria meant “Lionheart” couldn’t advance to the final shortlist of nominees. The South Korean dark comedy thriller “Parasite” took the award that year.
2. The Milkmaid – 2021
Disappointed with the prior year’s Oscar selections, the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) adopted a more cautious approach in 2021. They chose “The Milkmaid,” directed by Desmond Ovbiagele, to be included on the initial list of potential nominees.
This emotionally stirring film narrates the story of two sisters struggling to survive amidst the horrors of terrorism. The primary language spoken throughout the movie is Hausa.
Unfortunately, “The Milkmaid” was not chosen to advance to the final round of Oscar nominees. The award in that category was ultimately presented to “Another Round,” a film submitted by Denmark.
3. Mami Wata – 2024
The NOSC did not submit any films for the 2022 and 2023 ceremonies. The primary reason given was that none of the submitted movies met the specific requirements set by the Academy Awards.
However, in 2023, the situation changed. The committee chose “Mami Wata,” directed by CJ Obasi, to represent Nigeria. This fantasy film achieved a significant milestone; it became the first Nollywood production to be screened at the renowned Sundance Film Festival. It secured a special jury award for its exceptional cinematography.
Despite the film’s critical praise and numerous international recognitions, “Mami Wata” wasn’t nominated for the final shortlist of Oscar contenders. Therefore, it didn’t compete for the award at the ceremony.
The other shortlisted international films in the category vied for the award. They include “Io Capitano” from Italy, “Perfect Days” from Japan, “Society of the Snow” from Spain, “The Teachers’ Lounge” from Germany, and “The Zone of Interest” from the United Kingdom.
For more updates like this, check here.
