Oscars 2027: Nigeria submits Damilola Orimogunje's 'Dear Ajayi' for Best International Feature Film
Nigeria has selected Damilola Orimogunje's "Dear Ajayi" as its entry for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC), chaired by actress and director Stephanie Linus, announced on October 4, 2026, according to Premium Times. The committee made its decision after reviewing films submitted between August 1 and August 31, 2026. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 14, 2027, in Los Angeles.
Two sisters, southwestern Nigeria in the 1990s
A co-production between Nigeria and Germany, the film is written and directed by Damilola Orimogunje. Set in the country's southwest in the 1990s, it follows two estranged sisters, Ade and Titi Ajayi, who are forced to reunite to care for their paralyzed mother following their father's death. Ade, a devout Christian, keeps the household running; Titi dreams of singing, and her independence reignites family tensions. The film is performed in Yoruba, English, and Igbo, starring Bimbo Akintola, Tosin Adeyemi, and Lanre Hassan.
A journey already acclaimed in Venice
"Dear Ajayi" was selected for the 2026 Venice Film Festival in the Giornate degli Autori section, a first for a Nigerian production, according to What Kept Me Up. It won the Bisato d'Oro award for Best Ensemble Cast as well as the CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Award. The same outlet reports that it has since been selected for the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival and the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt for its North African premiere. It will also be screened at Film Africa in London on October 30, 2026.
Nigeria starting from a distance
Despite the industrial power of Nollywood, the continent's leading film producer, the country has never received a nomination in this category. "Lionheart" was disqualified in 2020 because its dialogue was primarily in English, "The Milkmaid" did not pass the selection stage in 2021, and Nigeria did not submit a film for the previous edition due to a lack of eligible candidates, notes Premium Times.
Calendar
"Dear Ajayi" was released in Nigerian theaters on September 18, 2026, ahead of a wider release scheduled for November 13, 2026. The Academy's shortlists are expected on December 15, 2026, and nominations on January 21, 2027. "We are looking forward to presenting the film," said Stephanie Linus, as quoted by Premium Times.
This article was written in French with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited below, then translated from French automatically. Read the original.