Submissions for 94th Oscars now open

STAFF REPORTER WINDHOEK Namibia is entering a new and exciting phase in its film-making journey. As of 2021, local film-makers are eligible to enter feature film and documentary features (over 40 minutes) into the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.This opportunity opens a new door for Namibian films, inspiring local film-makers to reach for excellence and compete within the international film community and have their work and artistry acknowledged.The closing date for submissions is Friday, 15 October, at 17:00.The Namibia international feature film awards selection committee will choose one film as the country’s official submission for the international feature film award or documentary feature award.The opportunity means Namibians are no longer making films for themselves and their local and continental community, but there is a possibility to tell stories for the global stage.The Oscars are not only a symbol of excellence but are recognised by the global film community as the highest level of film-making.Dream bigThe country may not have a film to enter this year or even next year, but the opportunity is available for every film-maker to dream big and imagine a moment when a film they’ve made can be acknowledged and affirmed by their peers alongside films from all over the world.To be in the top 15 Oscars’ nominated films is to have reached the pinnacle of your career; this allows the film to access its largest audience and the film-maker to leverage their skills on the world stage. Equally, it gives the country an opportunity to be seen as a community that nurtures talent.RequirementsTo submit a film for consideration for the 2022 Oscars, it must be first released in Namibia no earlier than 1 January 2021 and no later than 31 December 2021, and be first publicly exhibited for at least seven consecutive days in a commercial motion picture theatre.Moreover, submissions must be in 35mm or 70mm film or DCP, and the film must be advertised and exploited during its qualifying theatrical release in a manner considered normal and customary to theatrical feature distribution practices. Films that, in any version, receive a non-theatrical public exhibition or distribution before their first qualifying theatrical release will not be eligible for Academy Awards consideration.Non-theatrical public exhibition or distribution includes but is not limited to: Broadcast and cable television, PPV/VOD, DVD distribution, Inflight airline distribution and internet transmission. Meanwhile, the recording of the original dialogue track as well as the completed picture must be predominantly (more than 50%) in a language or languages other than English. Accurate, legible English subtitles are required, while the creative control of the film must be largely in the hands of Namibian citizens or residents. To submit, follow the link: http://bit.ly/namibianoscars

Submissions for 94th Oscars now open

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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Submissions for 94th Oscars now open

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

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