Nigeria’s Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has chosen the Hausa-language epic Mai Martaba to represent the country in the International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. In its official statement, the committee cited the film’s captivating theme of inclusive leadership and diverse voices in decision-making, along with its visual and technical quality, as key reasons for its selection.
The NOSC, led by award-winning filmmaker Stephanie Linus, includes notable figures in Nigerian cinema such as Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN) President Victor Okhai, actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, former DGN President Andy Amenechi, and other prominent filmmakers and industry experts. The selection was unanimous, with Mai Martaba receiving the highest votes from the 15-member committee.
Set in the historical town of Daura in Katsina State, Mai Martaba explores the rise and fall of a powerful kingdom that thrived on the Trans-Saharan trade before succumbing to internal conflicts within the ruling Agadashawa clan. Directed and produced by Prince Daniel, the film has received attention on the global stage, including a nomination at the Septimius Awards in Amsterdam.
With the 97th Oscars scheduled for March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Mai Martaba will enter the next phase of consideration by the International Feature Film Executive Committee, potentially marking a new milestone for Nigerian cinema on the world stage. The awards will be broadcast live to over 200 territories worldwide, bringing Mai Martaba and Nigerian film culture to a vast international audience.