The veteran filmmaker made an announcement of the latest development on Twitter and said that he would keep up with good work despite the rejection of his movie by the Nigeria Oscar selection committee.
Anikulapo Is Not The Only Movie Rejected
The Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee led by Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi has revealed that ‘Anikulapo’ is not the only Nigerian film that was rejected.
Three Yoruba Language films were rejected, according to the source who spoke with Qed: Biyi Bandele’s Eleshin Oba: The King’s Horseman, Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Anikulapo’ and Femi Adebayo’s ‘King of Thieves.
NOSC’s decision to add “No Film is Eligible” as a voting category cost Nigeria the opportunity to submit a film for consideration.
Members of NOSC also confessed to the publication that they cannot determine which film will win an Oscar, but are responsible for submitting films that meet the requirements.
“Eight members of the 15-member committee however voted for “No Film is Eligible”, a strange category that ensured none of the films makes it to the Oscars.
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“The committee’s job is not to determine the film that will win an Oscar but to submit one that meets the criteria.
“Getting a title mention alongside other countries that have films submitted for the Oscars – even if we do not win – would have been good for the Nigerian film industry.”
Subsequently, findings by Ripples Nigeria revealed that ‘Anikulapo’ contravened the Oscars release policy, which states that a movie hoping to be considered for the Oscars’ International Feature Film Award must be released at the cinema/theatre first, before showing on streamers like Netflix and Television Stations.
ANIKULAPO was released on Netflix and in theatres on the same day, September 30.
