August 01, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), has admitted five new members in a bid to strengthen its membership and meet its objectives.
These members include the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Ali Nuhu; film producer and director Blessing Effiom Egbe; actress Ijeoma Grace Agu; Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Filmhouse Cinemas, Kene Okwuosa; and journalist, author, and film critic, Victor Akande.
According to actress and president of NOSC, Stephanie Linus, the inclusion of the new members brings together individuals with diverse creative backgrounds, enhancing the process of selecting the best film from Nigeria.
The team is tasked with collecting, screening, and voting on entries to represent the country in the International Feature Film (IFF) category.
Meanwhile, both NOSC and AMPAS have invited Nigerian filmmakers to submit their feature films for consideration in the IFF category of the 97th Annual Academy Awards otherwise known as The Oscars.
The NOSC, accredited by AMPAS, is responsible for choosing Nigeria’s official entry for the IFF Award. The IFF Award is conferred annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States that contains 50 percent or more of dialogue in a language or languages other than English.
The Academy stipulates that submitted films must meet specific criteria, including providing accurate, legible English subtitles, adherence to particular shooting formats and evidence of theatrical release—detailed information regarding these requirements is available on the NOSC website.
Despite previous attempts, Nigeria has yet to make the IFF award shortlist.
With Linus now leading the committee, there is renewed hope for a successful entry, especially following the various controversies that have plagued the committee in the past.
The submission portal will be open from August 1, 2024, to August 30, 2024, on the NOSC website.
The 97th Oscars ceremony is set for March 2, 2025, broadcasting live from the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, to over 200 territories worldwide.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
