As the Oscars race for the 2025 Best International Feature Film (IFF) category intensifies, Nigeria’s Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has chosen Mai Martaba, a Hausa-language film directed by Prince Daniel, as the country’s official submission. This choice comes after a rigorous selection process that saw the film beat three other contenders, including Kaka, another submission by Daniel, to secure its place as Nigeria’s entry for the prestigious global event.
Dr. Victor Okhai, a NOSC member and president of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria, explained some reasons other quality Nigerian films failed to meet the IFF criteria. Many filmmakers, he noted, mistakenly submit films initially released on streaming platforms like Netflix, which do not satisfy the Oscars’ cinema screening requirement. To qualify for the IFF category, a film must be screened in cinemas for at least seven consecutive days and contain more than 50 percent dialogue in a non-English language. Okhai emphasised that aspiring Oscar contenders need to understand these requirements to ensure eligibility.
Mai Martaba met all these conditions, including the language criterion and a three-week cinema screening in Nigeria’s northern cities, which targeted its demographic audience. Set in the fictional Kingdom of Jallaba, the film explores themes of political tension, cultural identity, and power struggles within a royal family as a king’s choice of his daughter as successor stirs conflict among ruling clans. Director Daniel describes the film as a celebration of Hausa culture, blending authentic storytelling with modern filmmaking techniques to spotlight the depth and resilience of northern Nigeria.
With this submission, Nigeria hopes to finally secure a spot on the Oscars shortlist, a feat that has eluded the country in past attempts, despite commendable submissions such as The Milkmaid (2020) and C.J. Obasi’s Mami Wata (2023)
Alongside Mai Martaba, Nigeria’s documentary entry Then Comes the Body is also making waves in the Oscar race. Directed by Jacob Krupnick and co-produced by Dami Aleje, this documentary chronicles Daniel Ajala’s journey as he nurtures Nigeria’s emerging ballet scene through the Leap of Dance Academy.
The documentary, which highlights Ajala’s remarkable contribution to African arts and culture, recently garnered acclaim by winning the Best Short Film award at the Short Shorts Film Festival, Asia’s largest international short film festival recognised by the Academy Awards. This historic win not only strengthens Then Comes the Body’s Oscar bid but also underscores the documentary’s cultural significance on a global stage.
Filmed in 2023, Then Comes the Body navigates the challenges of filming in Nigeria, particularly in capturing scenes of ballet performed in unique public spaces, such as Obalende and Eko Market. Aleje shared that Krupnick’s vision centred on authentically representing Leap of Dance Academy’s story with Ajala at its core.
“As the glue holding the community together, Daniel’s personal journey naturally intertwined with Nigeria’s growing ballet scene,”
Aleje said. Building relationships with local leaders ensured that the production could film seamlessly with the community’s cooperation, allowing the foreign crew to feel welcomed and supported.
Both Mai Martaba and Then Comes the Body await the final Oscars shortlist announcement in January 2025, with hopes high for Nigeria’s representation in this year’s Academy Awards lineup.
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