Namibia’s Oscars selection committee, through the Namibia Film Commission (NFC), has announced that the country did not submit a film for the 94th Academy Award’s International Feature Film category.

The four submissions received did not meet the academy’s qualifying criteria, which among other things include a film running seven consecutive days in a Namibian cinema following its premiere between 01 January 01 and 31 December 2021.

This follows the announcement in September that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had granted the NFC permission to appoint an eight-member selection committee of Namibian creatives and cinephiles to seek Namibian submissions ahead of the 2022 Academy Awards.

The committee’s chairperson, Obed Emvula in a media statement on Tuesday said while Namibia may not have a film to enter officially this year in the international feature film category, the opportunity exists for every filmmaker to imagine a moment when a film they have made is recognised and affirmed by their peers alongside films from all over the world, adding that “Being in the Top 15 films as a nominee is to have reached the pinnacle of your career.”

Emvula also stated that the Namibian Oscars Committee wishes to congratulate the two Namibian productions, ‘The White Line’ and ‘Invisibles (Kaunapawa),’ which entered the Academy Awards independently and through the laudable efforts of the producers.

“The two Namibian productions are currently campaigning for Oscar nominations. We wish the production teams the best of luck on their journey and urge Namibian entities to support Namibian films competing at the Oscars, thereby helping to position Namibia as a favourable investment, tourism and film destination,” he stated.

He urged Namibian filmmakers not to despair and to look forward to next year, when local filmmakers will once again be able to submit entries for the Oscars.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency