The Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC) has called on Nigerian filmmakers to submit entries for the “Best International Feature Film” category of the 2020 Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science, also known as the Oscars.
The Oscars 92nd Academy Awards ceremony will hold at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles on February 9, 2020.
In a statement by the selection committee, it said entries is open both to Nigerian filmmakers living in Nigeria and those in the Diaspora.
The Committee stated that the film has to be 40 minutes, and produced outside the USA. Entries received will be scrutinized under the eligibility rules and the nominated film will represent Nigeria at the Academy Award 2020.
The NOSC further advised Nigerian filmmakers to make use of the opportunity to participate in the Oscars by submitting their films latest September 20th, 2019.
The Committee also apologises for the late announcement which they said was due to delay in approval for the reconstituted 12-man committee by the Academy.
Chairman of the Committee, Chineze Anyaene, disclosed that for a film to be eligible, it must have, among other criteria, been released in Nigeria between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019, and must have been exhibited in a commercial cinema theatre for at least seven days.
She also noted that criteria for selection include originality of story, good directing, acting, cinematography and sound, while the recording of the original dialogue track as well as the completed picture must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English.
Submissions are expected to be done by post to the NOSC Secretariat at 614 Street, Area 1, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
Interested filmmakers are then advised to visit the NOSC website on http://www.thenosc.org or email info@thenosc.org for further enquiries.
By Tobi Olusola