Three months to Oscars, producers of ‘Mai Martaba’ Nigeria’s selection for the 2025 Oscars International Feature Film has appealed for votes to scale the categories’ nomination list.
Prince Daniel, producer of ‘Mai Martaba’ made the appeal at the Abuja Premiere of the film which witnessed the attendance of government and international community dignitaries.
According to Daniel, this stage of the Oscars is not about how good the movie is rather the politics and politicking around the event.
Historically, no Nigerian film has made either the longlist or shortlist of the International Feature Film category of the award. Genevive Nnaji’s ‘Lionheart’ and CJ Obasi’s ‘Mami Water’ only made the category’s submissions list in 2019 and 2024.
A spot in the shortlist or winning the award, will not only improve Nigeria’s creative industry, but open up Nigeria’s film industry, in particular, the northern Nigeria film industry, Kannywood, to investment, said Daniel.
Making a case for Kannywood, which he asserted as the most shortchanged in the Nigeria film industry, the producer noted that of the $165 million spent in Africa film industry within South Africa, Kenya and
Nigeria, none of the $33 million expended in Nigeria came to Kannywood.
Thus, having a northern film make it to the Oscars is an opportunity for Nigerians to unite and push it to the top.
Part of that push, comes with the film crew’s efforts to screen the film at the Red Sea International Film Festival, Saudi Arabia; LA International Film Festival, US; and in the UK, which Daniel said costs $30,000 to $40,000.
“We have always heard negative things and insecurity about northern Nigeria. Now, we have good news from the north, could we possibly come together in this journey (to the Oscars) and get us to the top list?” urged the filmmaker.
Set in a fictional, patriarchal Kingdom of Jallaba, political intrigues, power mongering and greed come to play in ‘Mai Martaba’ (Your Highness) when ruling King Sanaya, nominates his daughter, princess Sangaya, as his successor.
Ironically, ‘Mai Martaba’ with its patriarchal theme – draws attention to the fact that the north has had a famous female queen, centuries ago, while at the same time, promoting the idea that its possible in contemporary so long as she is the next in line and capable to do the job.
A unique factor of the film, is its showcasing of the beauty of the northern culture, from colourful, handwoven embroideries on majestically sewn ceremonial costumes, everyday use crafts, pottery and furnishing (which were a mix of olden and modern designs and objects on the set), to the old, earthen (red mud) architecture – elevated by a stylistic lighting of the spaces’ interiors, to the epic-inducing aerial shots of the Daura desert in Katsina State. Also commendable are the fights training scenes, and the director, Daniel’s ability to successfully cast (99%) new actors in the film.
On the other hand, there is the plot drag, where over seven scenes’ shots are dedicated to the confirmation of the King’s choice of successor; the close shot of the aftermath of a war scene which depicted a Chinese male head mask, and the poor audio quality.
But the audio and translation glitches at the screening, actor Francis Duru dismissed as ‘force majore’. “They are not lapses from the cinematic and contextual value of the film. I don’t think it was an issue. At the end of the day, they were corrected and people stayed back to watch it, which speaks volumes to the fact that it was a good film.
For the Managing Director, Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC), Ali Nuhu said ‘Mai Martaba’ spotlights socially relevant themes, in addition to highlighting the northern cultures, and a subject spanning over a thousand in the north, reverberating in Hausa folklores and histories.
“As an actor assembling an entirely new actors, with the exception of Zango, who is veteran, is providing an opportunity for upcoming talents. Secondly, I am impressed they (the first-time cast) was able to deliver. This project will push the industry socially, economically forward.”
On Nigeria’s race to the Oscars, Nuhu said the screening of the film on the Zuma International Film Festival platform is one way of bringing it to the notice of Nigerians who have not heard it.
He also charged Nigerians to deploy word of mouth, and the social media to create awareness of the film, and other means of communication.
“Social media will go a long way to pushing the film. Even if it is to ensure that the voting members get to see the film. If they do, it creates better ripple, enough for the film to be selected in its category.”
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