Hausa epic film, ‘Mai Martaba’ endorsed for Oscars 2025 – FG
Hausa epic film, ‘Mai Martaba’ endorsed for Oscars 2025 – FG
Nigeria Government has backed the Hausa epic film, ‘Mai Martaba,’ which the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) selected as the country’s contender for the International Feature Film (IFF) category at the Oscars, which holds on 3 March 2025 at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The movie was produced and directed by Prince Daniel. ‘Mai Martaba’ delves into the themes of power, love, greed, and betrayal in an ancient African kingdom that resonates with human experiences.
It weaves a transformative narrative that defies conventions while celebrating female leadership. Furthermore, the film premiered on 1 December at the Zuma Film Festival, Nigeria’s premier cinematic event, ahead of the awards.
According to its Zuma premiere, ‘Mai Martaba’ will launch a private screening tour across key cities worldwide, a journey the audience can participate in as part of its Global Oscar Campaign. During this tour, the film will be introduced to Academy voting members—a highly influential audience comprising film professionals, industry leaders, critics, and media. These exclusive viewings aim to secure global attention and support for Mai Martaba in the Oscars race.
Vice President Kashim Shettima pledged the FG’s unwavering support for the film’s Oscar campaign. During a meeting with the film’s team, led by the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima underscored the significance of the $618 million iDICE initiative. This initiative, aimed at fostering the growth of Nigeria’s digital and creative industries, aligns with the government’s commitment to bolstering projects like Mai Martaba on the global stage.
The iDICE initiative is a significant step towards creating a conducive environment for the growth of the film industry in Nigeria, providing funding, infrastructure, and support for filmmakers. He said the programme, aimed at fostering the growth of Nigeria’s digital and creative industries, aligns with the government’s commitment to bolstering projects like Mai Martaba on the global stage.
“We are united in our support for ‘Mai Martaba,’ and this is a national effort to showcase Nigerian cinema on the global stage. We will ensure that the kaleidoscope representing all our nation’s colours is carried along. Let’s fuse into one and support this project. There is more that binds than divides us. Within the ethnic groups, you don’t know where the boundaries end. We are essentially one people,” the Vice President stated, emphasising national unity through the film industry.
Shettima urged Musawa to spearhead the campaign and mobilise all resources to secure Nigeria’s success at the Oscars.
“By the end of the century, Nigeria will be the most populous nation on earth. There is beauty in numbers. I want to reiterate my steadfast support for us to get the Oscars”, he added.
