The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Oscar Awards has extended a call to Nigerian filmmakers to submit their feature films for consideration in the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the 96th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars).
The NOSC is recognised by the Academy of Motion Pictures Association of America and is expected to choose one film as the country’s official submission for the IFF Award.
The portal for submission, according to the committee, was opened on August 28, 2023, and will receive entries till September 15, 2023, on thenosc.org.
The new Chairman of the NOSC, actress and filmmaker, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, also shared the statement from the Committee on her social media handles.
She succeeded Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi last month after a 10-year reign of two terms by the director of Ije.
“The IFF Award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains 50 percent or more in a language or languages other than English,” NOSC’s statement read.
It added: “The Academy Awards requires that films submitted must meet other criteria, including accurate, legible English language subtitles, shooting formats, and theatrical releases – details of which are available on the NOSC website.”
Okereke-Linus, who has been a member if the committee for two years, expressed excitement at her new role, saying that the 96th Oscars presents another opportunity to honour exceptional Nigerian storytellers and talents on the global stage.
The 96th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The ceremony will air live in more than 200 territories worldwide from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Desmond Ovbiageli’s ‘The Milkmaid’ was submitted as Nigeria’s entry in 2020 but failed to earn a shortlist for nomination.
But no film was submitted in 2021 and last year by the committee which was set up in 2014 after Anyaene-Abonyi got the ‘franchise’ to have the committee set up in Nigeria.
