The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has picked CJ Obasi's Mami Wata as the country's contender for the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the 96th Academy Awards next year.
The black-and-white film about a West African goddess and her waning influence in a struggling village won the highest number of votes from the 14-member committee.
The NOSC announced in a statement on Sunday, October 15, 2023, that the film was selected for its relevant theme and unique approach to a story of pre and post-colonial African societies. The committee also praised the film for its technical and artistic excellence.
Mami Wata debuted in Nigerian cinemas in September but grossed just over ₦4.5 million after three weeks. Its box office run was marred by unfavourable time slots and technical issues reported by cinemagoers, especially in Abuja and Lagos.
Despite the local setback, the film also screened in many cinemas across the world and was already the toast of the international film community before its cinema run. It made history as the first homegrown Nigerian film at the Sundance Festival where it won a special jury prize for its striking cinematography in January.
Mami Wata also scored 12 nominations, the highest of any film, for the 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) taking place on October 29.
Pointing to the film as a shining example of great work, NOSC chairperson, Stephanie Linus, urged Nigerian filmmakers not to relent in enhancing their skills and elevating production to global standards.
"I'm excited to announce a milestone in our NOSC journey: our first Pidgin film submission to the Academy, marking our commitment to diversity and global representation," the veteran actress said.
The IFF Executive Committee will determine whether the film will beat dozens of other films from across the world to the shortlist of contenders at the 96th Oscars ceremony on March 10, 2024.
ALSO READ: CJ Obasi's 'Mami Wata' tale is mythological, but the tension is political