It seems Nollywood’s hopes have been scattered to the wind as our contender The Milkmaid will not be participating in the 2021 Oscars.
The 93rd Academy Awards, scheduled for April, has released the shortlist of the International Feature Film, a category that celebrates films from other climes than the United States with predominantly non-English dialogue. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s submission did not make the cut.
Only 15 films from countries such as Chile, Tunisia, Iran, Mexico, Romania, Norway would advance to the nominations round. Then, the Academy members will be invited to opt in to participate and view all 15 films to vote.
The Nigeria Oscars Submission Committee (NOSC), the body in charge of submitting films to the Academy Awards for Nigeria; has fervently pursued an opportunity for Nollywood to participate in the global film awards.
In 2019, its submission, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart was disqualified for not meeting the language requirement. The body receieved criticisms from many for that shortcoming. The Milkmaid however became the first Nigerian film eligible to compete at the Oscars.
Desmond Ovbiagele’s The Milkmaid is an Hausa language film about the effects of insurgency on women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Following The Milkmaid eligibility confirmation, NOSC Chairperson Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi said:
“While we wish The Milkmaid, and indeed our country further success in the remaining journey towards the 93rd Academy Awards in April; we look further into the years ahead with greater determination to continue to play on this global stage. If we have done anything to get Nigeria to the present feat; rest assured that the NOSC will do even more in the coming years of the Oscars,”
African films that made the shortlist include Ivory Coast’s Night of the Kings and Tunisia’s The Man Who Sold His Skin.
Nominations voting for the Oscars will officially begin on Friday, March 5, and conclude on Wednesday, March 10. Nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, March 15. The main ceremony takes place on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
