The International Feature Film (IFF) executive committee of the Academy Awards has weighed into the crisis rocking the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Oscars.
The NOSC has been in the news after it agreed that no Nigerian film will compete in the IFF category at the 2023 Oscar Awards.
The committee had said the top three films — ‘Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman’ by the late Biyi Bandele; Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Anikulapo’ and Femi Adebayo-produced ‘Agesinkole (King of Thieves)’ — screened were not eligible to represent Nigeria at this year’s Oscars.
It is understood that the 15-member committee reached 8-5-1-1 votes with the majority voting for no film.
The development provoked a widespread backlash, while some members of the Chineze Anyaene-led committee also announced their resignation.
In a Twitter post on Sunday, Shaibu Husseini, the journalist, and Mildred Okwo, the filmmaker, announced that the Academy has asked the committee to reconvene and review its decision.
Husseini and Okwo had earlier resigned their membership of the committee.
I have just been informed that the International Feature Film Executive Committee of @TheAcademy has intervened in the issue regarding the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC). I note that an extension has been granted for a final determination by the @officialnosc,” Husseini wrote.
I have just been informed that the International Feature Film Executive Committee of @TheAcademy has intervened in the issue regarding the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC). I note that an extension has been granted for a final determination by the @officialnosc (1)
— Husseini Shaibu, Ph.D (@igalaman) October 16, 2022
I also note the IFF committee’s directive that ‘the entire approved NOSC will be required to all reconvene and make a final determination’.
“Though I resigned my membership of the NOSC because I felt, among other reasons, that we did not reach a consensus on the ‘nill submission’, I will be more than willing to temporarily withdraw my resignation if only for the purpose of making a final determination regarding a submission to the IFF category for the 95th Academy Awards. I remain Yours in the true service of Nigeria and the massive film industry.”
On her part, Okwo wrote: “The entire committee has been directed to reconvene. Hopefully, we can all put aside whatever and have the meeting we should have had ages ago.”
The entire committee has been directed to reconvene. Hopefully, we can all put aside whatever and have the meeting we should have had ages ago. https://t.co/pAHYDlNkx4
— Storyteller (@MealdredO) October 16, 2022
