Actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo has said he is hopeful that his movie King of Thieves will be selected following the one-week extension given to the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to submit a film for the 2023 Oscars.
A letter by the Academy dated October 14 addressed to the NOSC chairperson Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi and vice-chairman Mahmood Ali-Balogun seen by Qed.ng granted the one-week extension which expires on October 21.
Femi Adebayo’s King of Thieves, Biyi Bandele’s Eleshin Oba: The King’s Horseman and Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo made it to the final for selection for the 2023 Oscars.
The NOSC, however, announced in September that no film will be submitted for the Oscars after five of its 15 members voted for Elesin Oba and one member each for Anikulapo and King of Thieves.
Reacting to the extension in a Twitter post on Tuesday, Femi Adebayo said he was hopeful that King of Thieves will put Nollywood on the global trend and win the award.
He wrote: “Now, the Nigerian Oscars selection committee have been compelled to present a movie latest Oct 21. I’m hopeful that #KingOfThieves can put us on the global trend ‘cos we made a great film and hope to bring home the win that we deserve.”
“Interestingly, all 3 are indigenous Epic movies. This is a great proof that telling our true African story will open us to the global market. Amongst all movies submitted to the Nigerian Oscars selection committee, 3 movies topped with #KingOfThieves” been 1 of them,” he added.
Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has also expressed optimism for Anikulapo following the extension.
