Among the 15 films shortlisted in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2021 Oscars, Philippe Lacôte's feature film "La nuit des rois" will represent Côte d'Ivoire.
Beyond film production and distribution, the challenge for African cinema lies in the visibility and recognition of its expressions on the international stage. This is an essential condition for the export of local works and the sustainable development of the film industry. African cinema has long suffered from a lack of representation of its content. Despite this, talented individuals are emerging, helping to promote local works and spread the influence of cinema beyond borders.
In addition to the official selection, this year's jury will include Mati Diop, director of the film "Atlantique," which won the Grand Prix at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
As a reminder, the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony will be held on April 25, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Synopsis of the film
"Twelfth Night"
: MACA, the prison in Abidjan, is one of the most overcrowded prisons in West Africa. Aging and ill, Blackbeard is an increasingly contested kingpin. To maintain his power, he revives the tradition of "Roman," a ritual that involves forcing a prisoner to tell stories throughout the night. A young pickpocket is chosen. "Roman" doesn't know how to tell stories, but he is haunted by one story in particular, that of the "microbe" leader Zama King…
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