Awards: African films shortlisted for the 2021 Oscars

The 2021 Oscar ceremony may see one or more films from Africa among the films nominated in the Best International Feature Film category. Currently, 4 films from the continent have applied and are waiting to be selected and counted among the nominees for the 93rd edition of the Oscars to be held on April 25, 2021.

The Oscars ceremony is certainly one of the most eargely awaited global film events each year. In 2021 the Oscars will hold their 93rd edition on April 25, two months after the date previously set and postponed due to the Covid 19 pandemic. For this edition, Africa will attempt to be represented in the category of best international feature film.

In this category, several African films hope to do better, for this edition, than the Nigerian film Lion Heart by Genevieve Nnaji which stopped just at the pre-selection phase for the Oscars 2020. To date, 4 films from the continent are shortlisted and hope to be nominated for this prestigious award.

This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese – Lesotho

This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Ressurection which has been shown at almost every major film festival in the world! The film was discovered at the Venice Biennale in 2019 and was subsequently selected for the Sundance Festival, the Rotterdam Festival and many others. The film’s Africa premiere took place in September 2020 during the Durban International Film Festival. The film directed by Jeremiah Mosese tells the story of Mantoa, an 80-year-old woman , who lives in a small village and who decides to lead a fierce protest against a government plan which aims to flood this village to build a barrage. A film to discover absolutely.

The Letter by Maia Lekow & Chris King – Kenya

With this film, Kenya will attempt to be nominated for an Oscar for the fifth time. The Letter is the first feature film by Maia Lekow and Chris King. A young man returns to his village in Kenya after his grandmother has received several death threats because she is accused of witchcraft. This is the plot of this film, which began its career in November 2019 during the Amsterdam Documentary Festival.

Héliopolis by Djaâfar Gacem – Algeria

Héliopolis is the film selected by Algeria to represent the country at the Oscars. The director of the film Djaâfar Gacem chooses for this first feature film to tackle a historical subject: the massacre of Sétif and Guelma in 1945. The film was unveiled in the Algerian press on 04 November last.

Night of The Kings by Philippe Lacôte – Ivory Cost

Night of The Kings is the last film by Ivorian director Philippe Lacôte. The film is set in West Africa’s most overcrowded prison, La MACA. Aged and sick, Blackbeard is more and more contested. To maintain his power, he decides to set up a ritual that consists of forcing a prisoner to tell stories all night long. A young pickpocket is chosen among the prisoners. He can’t tell, but he is haunted by only one story, that of the gang leader Zama King …

Rostand Wandja

Tags: Awards Côte d’ivoire Kenya 𝐋𝐚 𝐍𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐬 Lesotho Oscars Philippe Lacôte