The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced that movies submitted by Nigerian filmmakers failed to meet eligibility criteria.
The Committee, which had, in September, called on Nigerian filmmakers to submit their films for the next edition of the Award scheme, cancelled its plan towards the country’s participation at the Oscars 2022.
Chairperson of NOSC, Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi, in a letter to the AMPAS, expressed regret that the Committee could not continue the selection process for this season, citing eligibility issues of films received as a major concern.
Anyaene-Abonyi stated that “After a series of deliberations by the Committee members, we regret to announce that there won’t be a submission of a film to represent the country for the 94th Academy Awards. This is due to the fact that the films received so far for screening failed the eligibility rule test set by the Academy.
“The Committee is committed to ensuring that the film which would eventually represent the country at the 94th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category meets all eligibility rules and technical requirements for the competition.”
The IFF Award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains 50 per cent or more of non-English dialogue.
The 94th Academy Awards requires that films submitted must meet other criteria, including accurate English subtitles, streaming or theatrical release for at least seven consecutive days in Nigeria, between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021.
The NOSC boss, while expressing optimism that Nollywood will be better prepared for subsequent editions of the Oscars, noted that there was a need for Nigerian filmmakers to learn more about the Academy rules.
Anyaene-Abonyi added that the NOSC would be engaging practitioners in a series of training.
Nigeria attained its first-time feat at the Academy last year with the country’s submission, “The Milkmaid”, being ratified by the Executive Committee of the IFF, having passed the eligibility rule test before dropping at the first shortlist category.
