Hopes for a Nigerian film to secure the International Feature Film category at the 96th Academy Awards have been dashed, as the country’s entry, “Mami Wata,” did not make the cut. 

The Nigerian Official Selection Committee had chosen the critically acclaimed Sundance Festival winner as its contender.

However, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the shortlist of films from 15 countries that advanced in the competition, “Mami Wata” was notably absent. The shortlisted films include entries from various nations, such as Denmark, Japan, France, Italy, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

 

Films listed are:

• Bhutan, “The Monk and the Gun”
• Armenia, “Amerikatsi”
• Denmark, “The Promised Land”
• France, “The Taste of Things”
• Finland, “Fallen Leaves”
• Germany, “The Teachers’ Lounge”
• Iceland, “Godland”
• Japan, “Perfect Days”
• Italy, “Io Capitano”
• Mexico, “Totem”
• Morocco, “The Mother of All Lies”
• Tunisia, “Four Daughters”
• Spain, “Society of Snow”
• Ukraine, “20 Days in Mariupol”
• United Kingdom, “The Zone of Interest”

The 96th Oscars ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024, broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation, Hollywood, to over 200 territories worldwide.