In light of the recent
media exchanges between the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC) and
Nollywood filmmakers, which have expressed concern among Nigerians over the
country's lack of representation at the 2023 Oscar, Victor Okhai, President,
Directors' Guild of Nigeria (DGN), has recommended filmmakers focus on making
and creating wonderful films rather than engaging in any internal conflict that
would distract from this.
When the first Academy
Awards ceremony was held in 1929 to honour films released in 1927 and 1928, no
mention was made of foreign-language films. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences (AMPAS) created the Foreign Language Film category in 1956 and
invited film industries across the world to submit their best films. Since then,
the Academy has given the IFF Award to a feature-length motion picture produced
outside of the United States that has 80% or more non-English dialogue.
The Foreign
Language Film Award Committee is in charge of overseeing the process and
reviewing all films submitted. Following that, they vote by secret ballot to
choose the five award nominees. The first recipient was the Italian neorealist
film "La Strada," whose citation stated, "The high quality of
this motion picture, brought to eloquent life in a country scared by war, is
proof to the world that the creative spirit can triumph over adversity."
The outstanding quality of this motion picture, brought to expressive life in a
war-torn country, is testament to the world that the creative spirit can triumph
over adversity," helped establish Federico Fellini as one of Europe's most
influential directors. Similar awards were given out in subsequent years. In
the following years, similar awards were given to seven other films.
During the early
post-war era (1947–1955), eight foreign language films received
special/honorary awards. Academy leader and board member Jean Hersholt argued,
"An international award, if properly and carefully administered, would
promote a closer relationship between American film craftsmen and those of
other countries".
Eight foreign language
films got special or honorary honours during the early postwar period
(1947–1955). Jean Hersholt, a member of the Academy's board of directors,
stated, "An international prize, if properly and carefully administered,
would create a stronger interaction between American film professionals and
those of other countries."
The International
Feature Film award, in contrast to other Academy Awards, is given to the
submitting nation as a whole rather than to a specific person (although the
film's director does accept it on stage).
Since the Chineze
Anyaene-Abonyi led Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC), registered under
the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as "The Oscar Selection
Association of Nigeria," a cultural organisation whose aim is to recognise
and promote the art of cinema by exhibiting Nigerian films and filmmakers to
the Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, for the category of Best
Foreign Film, the committee has submitted two Nigerian feature films to the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards.
The academy's board of
governors agreed on April 23, 2019, that the category would be renamed Best
International Feature Film, commencing with the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020. It
was stated that the term "foreign" was "outdated within the
global filmmaking community," and that the new name "better
represents this category, and promotes a positive and inclusive view of
filmmaking and the art of film as a universal experience." This category
will also allow animated and factual films.
Nigerian filmmakers
approach their craft differently because they are all driven by the desire to
win the Oscar rather than by the need to ensure that the films they are submitting
to the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Academy Awards are
technically and artistically up to par.
To be eligible for the
Academy Awards, a film must also meet a number of additional requirements, such
as being dominated by the native language of the country it represents, being
released during the calendar period mandated by the Oscars, having appropriate
English subtitles, and having been seen in cinemas or theatres for at least
seven days in the nation it represents before being shown on streamers like
Netflix, Amazon, and terrestrial television.
In 2019, the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences caused a stir by disqualifying the first
Oscar entry from Nigeria's massive film industry. The submission of the film
was seen as a watershed moment for the country's film industry, known as
Nollywood. It's a film called "Lionheart," which is Genevieve Nnaji’s
first directing debut that met every other requirement, and it was disqualified
from the International Feature category because the 95-minute film
"Lionheart" is largely in English, with an 11-minute section in the
Igbo language. The decision prompted widespread outrage and criticism in the
Nigerian, British, and American film industries, like Ms. Ava DuVernay, director
of "Selma and A Wrinkle in Time," with many blaming colonialism
rather than Nigerian filmmakers. Others sided with the Academy, arguing that
the rules for the best international feature film applications are well
defined.
The Executive
Committee for the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Oscars
confirmed in January 2021 that Nigeria's official entry, "The
Milkmaid," a Hausa language insurgency thriller produced and directed by
Desmond Ovbiagele, was eligible after submission in December 2020, along with
other contenders for the 93rd Academy Awards. Nigerians' expectations, however,
were dashed once more when it failed to make the first shortlist of the 15
foreign films chosen for the International Feature Film category.
In a sense, the fact
that European films are already produced in foreign languages gives them an
advantage, especially those in languages like German, French, Spanish, or
Italian, even though they are currently not in very good shape because they
don’t have the places to distribute the films. Unlike Nigeria, that has a clear
open market.
The fact that Nigerian
films are not eligible for submission at the awards ceremony is due to a number
of factors impeding international attention, including a lack of funding for
collaborations and technical support from foreign institutions. Meeting minimum
tech specs and strict adherence to the requirements for qualification and
submission instead of whipping up sentiments remain a basic challenge.
Prior to the
establishment of the Nigerian Oscar Committee in 2013, Nollywood productions
frequently failed to meet the technical requirements of a cinema film due to
the emphasis on home videos. However, with the emergence of multiple streaming
platforms, they appear to be more promising, but it remains to be seen how far
and sustainable the current trend will last.
The Nigerian film
industry is attempting to demonstrate that it can compete favourably with other
developing film nations throughout the world. However, even if the quality of
Nollywood productions improve, an Oscar nomination or win is not certain as we
continue to drag ourselves out there, especially when the Oscars are coming up.
The Oscars are merely
a marketing game in which anyone who can attract attention can win. The quality
of films at the Oscars will not depreciate, as good films will always stand
out. National interests should take precedence over personal interests, as the
Oscar is not the beginning and end of the world. Nigerian filmmakers should
focus on making good films and, as much as possible, avoid dragging ourselves
before the Oscars.
Nigeria is not the
only nation embroiled in controversy over the submission of an ineligible film.
Film critics and other interested parties are also upset and perplexed about
Egypt's failure to submit any movies for the International Feature Film Award.
In nearly 75 years,
just three African films have won the Oscar for best foreign feature, and
despite the enormity of Bollywood's film industry, India has never won the
award for best international film. The category is dominated by Europe. The
last time a film representing an African country garnered a nomination was
Kaouther Ben Hania's "The Man Who Sold His Skin," which represented
Tunisia at the 93rd Academy Awards earlier this year. After being nominated
with "Yesterday" the previous year, the South African film
"Tsotsi" won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006, one of
the few times the prize went to an African country. South Korea's entrant,
Parasite, became the first international feature film winner and the first
non-English film overall in 2020.
The fact that Nigerian
films are not eligible for entry into the awards ceremony is due to a number of
issues that prevent worldwide recognition, such as a lack of funding for
partnerships and technical assistance from foreign organisations to give the
film a global appeal following the subject it's treating and a lack of
government support to fund the producers and directors to hit the international
market. Making movies is an expensive endeavour, and like with any investment,
a clear path to returns must be provided.
Few people are ready
to accept the chance, especially given the abundance of safer ways to profit.
Can we begin by winning top film festivals,
where we can compete on the global stage with the best? Can we focus solely on
winning our at own top film festivals? The world, like our colleagues in music,
accepted and applauded our stars before the Grammys. Quality comes first,
followed by recognition. With the kind of production that has been coming out
of the business in recent times, we are well on our way.
The Oscars will find
us at the right time if we focus more on the work that we do. The recognition
that we get from the work that we do is far more valuable than any validation
that will come from any external source.
