The Oscars are just one way of assessing cinema, shaped by a specific cultural lens.
Conventional wisdom suggests Academy recognition brings real-world benefits. But acclaimed African filmmakers—Ousmane Sembène, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, and many others—built influential careers without it.
Still, the way Oscar categories are structured matters—not because an Oscar legitimizes a film, but because arbitrary barriers limit opportunity and visibility on a major international platform.
Ahead of last night’s Oscars, Akoroko Premium subscribers received a newsletter breaking down how African films have engaged with the International Feature category, expanding on an earlier October 2024 piece.
Using historical data, it examines submission rules, language requirements, and European dominance, questioning whether Oscar recognition benefits African cinema while acknowledging its role in funding and distribution access.
It also considers shifts in global filmmaking, like digital platforms and cross-border productions, and suggests ways the Academy could create a more inclusive selection process within this category.
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This report is brought to you by African Screen Intelligence (ASI), the most comprehensive market intelligence tool tracking Africa’s presence in global film, television, and digital media markets.