INTRODUCTION
The Kenya Film Commission (KFC) is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (The Oscars) to set up an OSCARS Selection Committee from Industry Associations & Guilds to make submissions for the Best International Feature Film Category Award – formerly known as the Best Foreign Language Film category Award – on behalf of the Kenyan film industry.
An International Feature Film is defined as a feature-length (over 40min) motion picture produced outside the United States of America with a predominantly non-English dialogue track. Animated and Documentary Feature Films are also permitted.
Only ONE FILM PER COUNTRY can qualify and a country needs not to submit a film every year. If successful at the Academy stage, the film is then considered as NOMINATED and once a film is nominated, it is then eligible to compete for The Oscars. Submission from Kenya is NOT equal to a Nomination.
THE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The OSCARS Selection Committee Kenya (OSCK) in keeping with the timelines provided by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Oscars) made a Call for Submissions on Monday 19th August 2019 for Kenyan filmmakers to submit their respective film projects to the committee for their consideration of selecting one of those films as Kenya’s Submission Entry for the 92nd OSCARS Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
Following the close of the (Kenyan) Call for Submissions on Monday 9th September 2019, The OSCARS Selection Committee Kenya received two (2) entries; namely “LUSALA” and “SUBIRA” Feature Films and on Wednesday 11th September 2018, the committee was convened by the Chairman to view and possibly select one of those entries as required by the regulations of The Academy. Both entries were thoroughly scrutinized to ensure they met with the required specifications and were recorded as duly received by the Committee.
THE SELECTION
The OSCARS Selection Committee Kenya, being an extension of The Academy, seeks to uphold the laid down parameters provided in the Special Rules and Regulations as it considers each entry. The strength of the body of work both in technical and entertainment value is looked at. After consideration of all the points and the strengths and weaknesses of all two film entries, the OSCARS Selection Committee Kenya hereby confirms that it has selected SUBIRA as the Kenyan submission to the 92nd Academy Awards (Oscars) in the category of Best International Feature Film Award.
