THE LETTER FILM IS KENYA’S OFFICIAL SUBMISSION FOR THE OSCARS

Kenya Film Commission announced The Letter a Kenyan feature film as Kenya’s official submission for the 93rd Academy Awards (Oscars) in the Best International Feature Film Category.

Kenya Film Commission (KFC) is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (The Oscars) to set up an Oscars Selection Committee (OSC) from Industry Associations and Guilds to make submissions for the Best International Feature Film Category Award formerly known as the Best Foreign Language Film Category Award on behalf of the Kenyan film industry.

An International Feature Film is defined as a feature-length (over 40min) motion picture produced outside the United States of America with a predominantly non-English dialogue track. Animated and Documentary Feature Films are also permitted. Only one film per country can qualify and a country needs not to submit a film every year. If successful at the Academy stage, the film is then considered as nominated and once a film is nominated, it is then eligible to compete for The Oscars. Submission from Kenya is not equal to a Nomination.

The Letter is an intimate family portrait that reveals an indestructible female power. The Documentary film was directed and produced by Maia Lekow and Christopher King with the support of Docubox, the East African Documentary Film Fund. Following its world premiere at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in November 2019. The film has been screened in various Festivals around the globe, receiving a Special Jury Mention at the Docs Barcelona (Panorama Competition) in May 2020 and a nomination at the One World Media Awards in April 2020.

Members of the Oscars Selection Committee Kenya (OSCK) are: Krysteen Savane the OSCK Chair | Kenya Film and TV Professionals Association, Alamin Virani the OSCK Secretary | Kenya Actors Guild, Albert Wandago of Kenya National Film Association, Mwendwa Mutua (Riverwood Ensemble), Wycliffe Buhere Tsinje of Association of Film Producing Educational Institutions of Kenya, Dennis Mbuthia of Association of Animation Artists, Fatma Wandia of Producers Guild, Serah Mwihaki of Kenya Scriptwriters Guild, Patricia Mollyne Mataga of Writers Guild, Kenya and Emily Wanja from Docubox.

The nominees for the 93rd Oscars Academy Awards will be announced by the Academy on February 9 2021 ahead of the Oscars Awards ceremony scheduled for April 25 2021.

Watch the trailer below!