CJ Obasi’s “Mami Wata” has been chosen by the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) as the country’s entry for the International Feature Film (IFF) category at the 96th Oscars Academy Awards in 2024.
According to veteran actress Stephanie Linus, who is NOSC chairperson, the black-and-white feature film won the highest number of votes from the 14-member committee due to its interesting theme and unique setting, which centered on pre and post-colonial African societies.
The committee also praised the film for its technical and artistic excellence.
Mami Wata which debuted in Nigerian cinemas in September, grossed only a little over ₦4.5 million in three weeks due to unfavorable time slots and technical issues reported by cinemagoers, particularly in Abuja and Lagos.
Despite the local setback, the film was screened in many cinemas across the world and made history in January as the first homegrown Nigerian film at the Sundance Festival which won a special jury prize for its striking cinematography. It also got 12 nominations, the highest of any film, for the 19th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) taking place on October 29.
The possibility of “Mami Wata” making it to the 96th Academy Awards’ shortlist will be determined by the IFF Executive Committee, with the announcement set for March 10, 2024. Notably, this film holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s inaugural Pidgin-language submission to the Oscars.
