Nigeria’s ‘The Milkmaid’ Loses Out On Oscar Win As Academy Releases Shortlist (Full List)

By Edna Wande On Feb 10, 2021

Nigeria’s hope of participating or winning in the 93rd Academy Awards (Oscars) has been dashed after the country’s submitted movie, ‘The Milkmaid’ did not make the shortlist for International Feature Film (IFF) category.

In the award category which celebrates movies outside the United States with predominantly non-English dialogue, ‘The Milkmaid’ was among films eligible to compete.

Shot in Taraba state, The Milkmaid’ addresses the issues faced by women caught in the upheaval of insurgency in rural Sub-Saharan Africa using the story of Zainab and her sister who were separated by militants.

It also examines the trauma of internally displaced persons (IDPs) as well as girls forced into early marriage.

Last December, Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) submitted the film to the Academy in its second attempt to participate in the Oscars, following the disqualification of ‘Lionheart’ — its first entry in 2019 for not meeting the non-English dialogue criteria.

However, in a shortlist released by the academy on Tuesday February 9, only 15 films from countries such as Chile, Tunisia, Iran, Mexico, Romania, Norway advanced to the next round.

According to ThisDay, African films that made the shortlist include Ivory Coast’s ‘Night of the Kings’ and Tunisia’s ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’.

Academy members will now be invited to opt in to participate and view all 15 shortlisted films to vote ahead of 93rd Academy Awards ceremony set to hold on April 25, 2021.

While nominations voting for the Oscars will officially begin on Friday, March 5 and conclude on Wednesday March 10, nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, March 15.

See the complete shortlists follow;

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Fifteen films will advance in Documentary Feature category. Two hundred thirty-eight (238) films were eligible in the category. Members of Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films are:

All In: The Fight for Democracy
Boys State
Collective
Crip Camp
Dick Johnson Is Dead
Gunda
MLK/FBI
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher
Notturno
The Painter and the Thief
76 Days
Time
The Truffle Hunters
Welcome to Chechnya

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

Ten films will advance in Documentary Short Subject category. One hundred fourteen (114) films qualified in the category. Members of Documentary Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films are:

Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa
Call Center Blues
Colette
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
Hysterical Girl
A Love Song for Latasha
The Speed Cubers
What Would Sophia Loren Do?

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Fifteen (15) films will advance to the next round of voting in International Feature Film category. Films from 93 countries were eligible in the category.

Academy members from all branches were invited to participate in the preliminary round of voting and must have met a minimum viewing requirement to be eligible to vote in the category.

In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches are invited to opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.

The films are:

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Quo Vadis, Aida?
Chile, The Mole Agent
Czech Republic, Charlatan
Denmark, Another Round
France, Two of Us
Guatemala, La Llorona
Hong Kong, Better Days
Iran, Sun Children
Ivory Coast, Night of the Kings
Mexico, I’m No Longer Here
Norway, Hope
Romania, Collective
Russia, Dear Comrades!
Taiwan, A Sun
Tunisia, The Man Who Sold His Skin

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Ten films will advance in Makeup and Hairstyling category. All members of the Academy’s Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch will be invited virtually to view seven-minute excerpts from each of the 10 shortlisted films on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Branch members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

The films are:

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
Emma
The Glorias
Hillbilly Elegy
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
The Little Things
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
One Night in Miami
Pinocchio

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

Fifteen (15) scores will advance in Original Score category. One hundred thirty-six (136) scores were eligible in the category. Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The scores are:

Ammonite
Blizzard of Souls
Da 5 Bloods
The Invisible Man
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
The Little Things
Mank
The Midnight Sky
Minari
Mulan
News of the World
Soul
Tenet
The Trial of the Chicago 7

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

Fifteen (15) songs will advance in Original Song category. One hundred and five songs (105) were eligible in the category. Members of the Music Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:

“Turntables” from All In: The Fight for Democracy
“See What You’ve Done” from Belly of the Beast
“Wuhan Flu” from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
“Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
“Never Break” from Giving Voice
“Make It Work” from Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
“Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah
“lo Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)
“Rain Song” from Minari
“Show Me Your Soul” from Mr. Soul!
“Loyal Brave True” from Mulan
“Free” from The One and Only Ivan
“Speak Now” from One Night in Miami
“Green” from Sound of Metal
“Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

Ten (10) films will advance in Animated Short Film category. Ninety-six (96) films qualified in the category. Members of Short Films and Feature Animation Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films are;

Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You
Kapaemahu
Opera
Out
The Snail and the Whale
To Gerard
Traces
Yes-People

LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM

Ten (10) films will advance in Live Action Short Film category. One hundred seventy-four (174) films qualified in the category. Members of Short Films and Feature Animation Branch vote to determine the shortlist and the nominees.

The films are:

Bittu
Da Yie
Feeling Through
The Human Voice
The Kicksled Choir
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
The Van
White Eye

VISUAL EFFECTS

Ten (10) films remain in the running in Visual Effects category. Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the branch will be invited virtually to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Following the screenings, members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

The films are:

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn
Bloodshot
Love and Monsters
Mank
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Soul
Tenet
Welcome to Chechnya.