Submission Requirements

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM AWARD

99TH ACADEMY AWARDS®

These submission requirements apply to filmmakers seeking consideration through Nigeria’s official selection process for the International Feature Film Award at the 99th Academy Awards®.

The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) requires filmmakers to provide the information and materials necessary to:

assess eligibility;
conduct Nigeria’s national selection process;
verify theatrical release and production information;
review submitted films securely; and
ensure that any film selected to represent Nigeria can proceed promptly to the Academy submission stage.

The requirements below are divided into three categories:

REQUIRED FOR NOSC SUBMISSION

Information and materials every filmmaker must provide when submitting a film to the NOSC.

NOSC ACADEMY-READINESS REQUIREMENTS

Additional NOSC requirements designed to ensure that any film selected to represent Nigeria can proceed promptly to the Academy submission stage.

REQUIRED ONLY IF THE FILM ADVANCES

Materials that are not required from every filmmaker at the initial NOSC submission stage.

A. REQUIRED FOR NOSC SUBMISSION

1. FILM INFORMATION

Provide:

original film title;
English-language title, if different;
running time;
country or countries of production;
year of completion;
original language or languages;
percentage of the original dialogue track in a language or languages other than English;
production company or companies;
co-production countries and partners, where applicable;
official synopsis; and
director’s statement.

The director’s statement is an NOSC submission requirement.

2. AUTHORISED SUBMITTER INFORMATION

Provide:

full name;
role or position;
production company or organisation;
email address;
telephone number; and
relationship to the film.

The submitter must be authorised to submit the film on behalf of the film’s rights holders or production.

3. COMPLETE CAST AND CREW CREDITS

Submit the film’s complete opening and closing credits as they appear on screen, in English.

The credits must be current, complete and accurate.

4. KEY CREATIVE PERSONNEL

Provide information concerning the film’s principal creative personnel, including:

director;
producer or producers;
screenwriter or screenwriters;
cinematographer;
editor;
production designer;
composer;
principal cast; and
other principal creative personnel, where relevant.

B. ELIGIBILITY AND CREATIVE CONTROL

5. CREATIVE-CONTROL DECLARATION

Provide a clear statement explaining how creative control of the film was largely in the hands of Nigerian citizens, residents, or individuals with refugee or asylum status in Nigeria, as applicable under Rule Sixteen.

The declaration should identify:

who originated and developed the project;
who exercised principal creative decision-making authority;
the roles of the director and producer or producers;
the roles of other key creative personnel;
the role of each production and co-production partner; and
how principal creative control was exercised throughout the production.

International co-productions are not automatically ineligible.

The NOSC may request supporting information or documentation where necessary.

6. CITIZENSHIP, RESIDENCY AND AFFILIATION INFORMATION

Where required for eligibility review, provide accurate information concerning:

citizenship;
residency;
refugee or asylum status;
business-related affiliations;
production-company affiliations; and
co-production relationships.

All information must be current, complete and accurate.

Failure to disclose material information may affect eligibility.

B. ELIGIBILITY AND CREATIVE CONTROL

7. QUALIFYING THEATRICAL RELEASE INFORMATION

Provide:

name of the qualifying cinema;
full cinema address;
country of qualifying theatrical release;
opening date;
dates of the qualifying theatrical run;
screening schedule;
ticketing information, where available; and
cinema or exhibitor contact information.

The qualifying theatrical release must comply with Rule Sixteen for the 99th Academy Awards®.

8. PROOF AND ADVERTISING OF THE THEATRICAL RELEASE

Submit published advertisements verifying the required seven-day theatrical run.

The NOSC may also request supporting evidence such as:

published cinema listings;
newspaper advertisements;
dated promotional materials;
official cinema schedules;
ticketing records;
exhibitor confirmation; or
other verifiable evidence.

The evidence must clearly identify:

the film;
the cinema;
the dates of the qualifying run; and
the relevant screening information.

9. COMPLETE RELEASE AND DISTRIBUTION HISTORY

Provide complete details of the film’s public exhibition and distribution history, including, where applicable:

theatrical exhibitions;
film festival screenings;
television broadcast;
cable television;
pay-per-view;
video on demand;
streaming;
DVD or other physical distribution;
in-flight airline exhibition; and
internet transmission.

All release and distribution information must be fully disclosed.

D. FILM FOR NOSC VIEWING

10. SECURE AND PASSWORD-PROTECTED FILM LINK

Provide a secure and password-protected link to the complete final film.

The link must:

contain the complete final version of the film;
remain active throughout the NOSC review and selection period;
contain no trailers or other extraneous material; and
include burned-in, accurate and legible English-language subtitles.

The submitter is responsible for ensuring that the link and password remain valid throughout the review and selection period.

E. SUPPORTING MATERIALS

11. DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY

Submit the director’s biography in English.

12. DIRECTOR’S PHOTOGRAPH

Submit a director’s photograph in one of the following dimensions:

VERTICAL

1080 × 1920 pixels

HORIZONTAL

1920 × 1080 pixels

F. NOSC ACADEMY-READINESS REQUIREMENTS

IMPORTANT

The following are additional NOSC requirements designed to ensure that any film selected to represent Nigeria can proceed promptly to the Academy submission stage.

These requirements do not mean that every film submitted to the NOSC has been submitted directly to the Academy.

They also do not mean that the Academy requires these materials directly from every film applying to the NOSC.

The NOSC requires filmmakers to demonstrate that they can prepare and deliver the necessary Academy materials promptly if their film is selected to represent Nigeria.

13. ACADEMY-READY STREAMING ASSET

The submitting production must confirm that it can prepare and deliver a compliant digital streaming asset promptly if the film is selected to represent Nigeria.

The asset must comply with the Academy’s current video and audio technical specifications.

For the Academy Screening Room version:

do not burn English subtitles into the video asset;
prepare the required English closed-caption file separately; and
ensure that the video and audio satisfy the current Academy technical specifications.

The NOSC may request the compliant asset earlier where necessary to ensure that the selected film can meet the applicable Academy deadline.

14. ENGLISH CLOSED-CAPTION FILE

The production must be prepared to provide an English closed-caption file that complies with the Academy’s current technical specifications.

The closed-caption file must be correctly synchronised to the Academy Screening Room version of the film.

15. STREAMING DISPLAY ARTWORK

The production must be prepared to provide horizontal movie artwork for the Academy Screening Room.

The artwork must comply with the Academy’s current display-art specifications.

16. ACADEMY-READINESS DECLARATION

The authorised submitter must confirm that, if the film is selected to represent Nigeria:

an Academy-compliant streaming asset can be delivered promptly;
the required English closed-caption file can be delivered promptly;
the required streaming display artwork can be delivered promptly;
all production and credit information is complete;
all theatrical-release evidence is available;
the production can respond promptly to technical and documentation requests; and
the production will cooperate fully with the NOSC to complete the Academy submission process.

G. AUTHORISED SUBMITTER DECLARATION

17. DECLARATION

The authorised submitter must confirm that:

they are authorised to submit the film;
all information provided is current, complete and accurate;
the submitted film and materials are authentic;
the NOSC may verify the information provided;
the NOSC may request additional information or documentation;
false, misleading or materially inaccurate information may affect eligibility; and
if selected, the filmmakers will cooperate fully and promptly with the NOSC.

REQUIRED ONLY IF THE FILM ADVANCES

18. FILM PRINT OR DCP

Do not require a film print or DCP from every filmmaker at the initial NOSC submission stage.

Under Rule Sixteen for the 99th Academy Awards®:

“Entrants whose films advance to the shortlist must submit either one 35mm or 70mm film print or one DCP of the film after the shortlist is announced.”

The NOSC may request confirmation that the production will be able to provide the required material if the film advances to the shortlist.

BEFORE YOU SUBMIT

Confirm that you have prepared:

Film and production information
Authorised submitter information
Complete cast and crew credits in English
Key creative personnel information
Creative-control declaration
Citizenship, residency and affiliation information, where required
Qualifying theatrical-release information
Published advertisements verifying the seven-day theatrical run
Complete release and distribution history
Secure password-protected viewing link
Burned-in, accurate and legible English-language subtitles on the secure viewing copy
Director’s biography in English
Director’s photograph in the required dimensions
Confirmation that an Academy-compliant streaming asset can be delivered promptly if selected
Confirmation that an English closed-caption file can be delivered promptly if selected
Confirmation that compliant streaming display artwork can be delivered promptly if selected
Academy-readiness declaration
Authorised submitter declaration

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The purpose of the NOSC’s Academy-readiness requirements is to ensure that any film selected to represent Nigeria can proceed promptly to the Academy submission stage.

Submitting a film or Academy-readiness information to the NOSC does not mean that the film has been selected or submitted directly to the Academy.

Only the film selected through Nigeria’s official national selection process may proceed as Nigeria’s official submission through the country or region selection pathway.

Where any NOSC information differs from the current official requirements of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy’s current official rules and requirements govern.