The Academy of Motion Pictures has rejected a Nigerian-themed movie ahead of next year’s Oscar Awards.
The movie ‘Joy’ is about Nigerian sex workers in Vienna and is an Austrian movie written and directed by filmmaker Sudabeh Mortezai.
However, the Academy believes it has too much Englis in it which goes against the rule governing the Best International Features category.
“As we do every year, the Academy is in the process of reviewing the films submitted for the International Feature Film category to determine whether they meet our eligibility rules.
The film Joy, submitted by Austria, was just reviewed and is ineligible because only 33% of the dialogue is non-English,” a statement from the Academy says.
This comes days after Lionheart, a Nigerian movie by Genevieve Nnaji got disqualified from the same category for the same reason.
Renowned film director Ava DuVernay has faulted the Academy’s decision saying, ‘another one. How about letting countries submit the film they feel best represents its cinematic work in any given year? I’m really asking. There has to be a good reason for not. I want to understand, @TheAcademy. I know when the no English rule originated. But why? Please share’.
