Film Independent Fellows Vie for Oscar Noms
It’s that special time of year again. So much anticipation… so many parties… so much to consume and consider. If these phrases conjure up the holidays and all the stress that comes with them, think again.
It’s awards season— the period from late fall to early spring when movies and the people who make them get recognized for their efforts. Whether you’re a film goer, lover, maker, or all of the above, awards season is an opportunity to witness the exceptional craft of storytellers worldwide.
With the 97th Oscars just around the corner, we’re excited to highlight official submissions for Best International Feature, as well as a Best Live Action Short eligible film, made by Fellows and Participants from Film Independent’s programs. These stories underscore the universal value of human connection, while showcasing the importance of cultures and perspectives from around the world. Film Independent’s Global Media Makers, which connects international storytellers with U.S. entertainment professionals, and Project Involve, which supports filmmakers from underrepresented communities, served as a launchpad for these acclaimed filmmakers, and continue to fuel the careers of burgeoning talent from around the globe.
ARZÉ
Country: Lebanon
Dir: Mira Shaib (Global Media Makers)
Producer: Zeina Badran (Global Media Makers)
Developed through Film Independent’s Global Media Makers 2018 LA Residency, Arzé is a comedic drama following a single mother and her teenage son across Beirut as they try to locate the stolen scooter they rely on to make a living selling her homemade pizza. According to director Mira Shaib, it’s a story about the resilience of Lebanon itself, even in the face of ongoing hardship.
The characters’ quest also parallels the arduous journey the film underwent to get made. Delayed due to protests and the pandemic, then shot during the worst financial crisis in Lebanon’s history, only to have its world premiere initially cancelled by a war, Arzé’s production overcame many obstacles, a testament to its storytellers’ perseverance. Thanks to the support of Global Media Makers, director Shaib and producer Zeina Badran were able to hold workshops for local high school students and organize outdoor film screenings in Lebanon.
Arzé had its North American premiere at Tribeca, and won best Screenplay and Best Actress at the Horizons of Arab Cinema. It is Lebanon’s official selection for the 97th Academy Awards.
SHAMBHALA
Country: Nepal
Dir: Min Bahadur Bham (Global Media Makers)
Shambhala, the Nepali selection for Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards, had its world premiere at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival, where it was the first of it’s country to compete for the prestigious Golden Bear award.
Set and shot in the Upper Dolpo region of the Himalayas, home to one of the highest human settlements, it’s no wonder Shambhala has been called visually poetic. The story a pregnant Tibetan refugee searching for her missing husband when her fidelity is called into question, however, is as much a spiritual journey as it is a cinematic one.
In addition to the support he received through Film Independent’s Global Media Makers 2019 LA Residency, director Min Bahadur Bham was granted funds to help make the film at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival. This is his second film selected to be Nepal’s official entry to the Academy Awards— the first was his 2015 film The Black Hen, which won the National Film Award for Best Writer.
LA SUPREMA
Country: Colombia
Dir: Felipe Holguín Caro (Project Involve)
EP: Maria Teresa Gaviría (Project Involve)
La Suprema, Colombia’s official entry to the 97th Academy Awards, centers on Laureana, a teenager who finds empowerment through boxing. She is determined to follow in her estranged uncle’s footsteps as he fights his way to a world title. Living in a remote Colombian village without electricity, Laureana convinces the rest of her town to find a way to watch him compete in a world championship boxing match.
La Suprema, which blends humor and social commentary in this tale of a marginalized community coming together, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023. The director, Felipe Holguín Caro, and executive producer Maria Teresa Gaviría, both participated in Film Independent’s Project Involve. Previously, Holguín Caro directed two documentary features, as well as multiple music videos and short films. La Suprema is his debut narrative feature.
MAI MARTABA
Country: Nigeria
Dir: Prince Daniel Aboki (Global Media Makers)
Mai Martaba tells the story of Jallaba, an ancient Nigerian kingdom experiencing a trade boom, only to see it fall apart from internal strife among its powerful clans. Challenging conventions of power and legacy, a royal battle unfolds when Jallaba’s leader announces his plans to hand over the kingdom to his daughter, invoking the wrath of the prince who was previously promised the throne.
Director and producer Prince Daniel Aboki was a participant in Film Independent’s Global Media Makers 2023 Directing / Cinematography Workshop that took place in Lagos, Nigeria for the Africa International Film Festival(AFRIFF).
In an effort to scale up the Nigerian film industry in the North, Mai Martaba is the region’s most expensive film ever shot. The director wanted his film to compete not just with other Nigerian productions, but on an international scale, and his efforts were rewarded when the country named Mai Martaba their contender for the 97th Academy Awards. In addition to being an award-winning filmmaker, Prince Daniel is also a UN Peace Ambassador, showcasing his passion for human stories that promote social change.
PLAY HARD
Dir: Winter Dunn (Project Involve)
Category: Best Narrative Short
Play Hard, an official selection at Tribeca, is a short film about an ambitious drummer who meets his match in a modern dancer, who teaches him the value of playing as hard as he works. Director Winter Dunn is an NAACP Image Award Winner and a Film Independent Project Involve Fellow. Her other short films have premiered at SXSW and been featured in The New Yorker. Play Hard is officially eligible for Best Narrative Short at the 97th Academy Awards.
For over 40 years, Film Independent has helped filmmakers get their projects made and seen. The nonprofit organization’s core mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling and support a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision.
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