Awards: Two African films remain in the race for the Oscars

The race for the Oscar for Best International Film continues for two African films. Last month, eight African films were admitted to compete for this prestigious award. After selection, two films from the continent continue the race among the 15 International Films  admitted in the shortlist unveiled last night by the Oscar Academy. This is good news for African cinemas, which have been growing steadily for the past decade. The Ivorian film Night of the Kings directed by Philippe Lacôte and the Tunisian film The Man Who Sold His Skin by Kaouther Ben Hania, are quietly continuing their race with the intention of being among the final list of nominees and why not win the golden statuette. So far the only African film to have won an Oscar is the South African feature film Mon name is Totsi by Gavin Hood in 2006.

Night of the Kings

Philippe Lacôte’s Night of th Kings continues its track, which began at the Monstra of Venice in September 2020. The film has been selected in the biggest festivals in the world. The film, which was released in Ivoiry Coast on 4th December , has just signed a contract with the American distribution company Neon. An agreement that will enable it to benefit from an efficient distribution on the American continent. The Night of the Kings is a prison film in which the director takes us to MACA, the most populous prison in West Africa, which is located in Ivoiry Coast. In this prison, a new inmate, Roman, played by Bakary Kone, is chosen as the one who will now tell stories. For the principle in this prison, managed by the inmates themselves and in which Blackbeard reigns, played by Steve Tientcheu, every night a prisoner must tell a story. Roman doesn’t know what to tell, but he is obsessed with Zama’s story. We keep our fingers crossed that the film will bring the prestigious statuette back to Abidjan!

The Man Who Sold is Skin

The Man Who Sold His Skin by Kaouther Ben Hania is the second African film to win the prestigious award. The Tunisian premiere of this film was held during The Tunisian Film Days  (TFF) 2020. The film tells the story of Sam Ali, a sensitive and impulsive young Syrian who flees his country to Lebanon to escape the war. In order to go to Europe and live with the love of his life, he agrees to get a tattoo on his back by the most sulphurous contemporary artist in the world. By transforming his body into a prestigious work of art, however, Sam will eventually discover that his decision was made at the price of his freedom. The film is a co-production between Tunisia, France and several other Western countries. A film that is eclectic in its approach and therefore the casting is enhanced by the presence of Italian Monica Belluci. We hope that the film will have the opportunity to win the prestigious statuette.

Rostand Wandja