Nigeria Returns to the Oscar Race With Damilola Orimogunje’s ‘Dear Ajayi’

Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi has been selected by the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) as Nigeria’s official submission in the International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.

For Nigerian cinema, Dear Ajayi’s selection already represents an important moment. Coming after Nigeria did not submit a film for the 98th Academy Awards and Mai Martaba’s not advancing beyond the submission stage in 2024, the film gives Nigerian cinema another opportunity to make an impression on the Academy stage. 

Set in 1990s Southwestern Nigeria, the film follows estranged sisters Ade and Titi Ajayi, who find themselves back under their late father’s roof as they care for their ailing mother. Ade, a devout Christian and the family’s sole provider, is determined to uphold the traditions and responsibilities she has inherited. Titi, meanwhile, is pursuing her ambitions as a singer. As the sisters navigate their differences, the film explores the tension between family duty, personal ambition, faith, and the expectations placed on them. 

The Academy submission comes at a significant point in Dear Ajayi’s journey. The film recently made history as the first Nigerian film selected in competition at Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days), the independent section held alongside the Venice Film Festival, and its festival run has continued to draw international attention. But for Orimogunje, the film has been a long time coming. He completed the script in 2017, drawing inspiration from observing family members, friends, and other people whose internal struggles are not always visible to those around them. He was also influenced by Paweł Pawlikowski’s Ida, particularly its intimate approach to the relationship between two women. 

Production, however, did not happen immediately. Financial and logistical challenges delayed the project, and Orimogunje went on to direct For Maria: Ebun Pataki (2020), an acclaimed feature that became his first film to reach the screen. Years later, he was finally able to bring Dear Ajayi to life. 

The film’s journey is now expanding beyond the festival circuit. Following a September 18 limited theatrical release in select Nigerian cinemas, Dear Ajayi is set for a wider theatrical rollout across Nigeria on November 13 through FilmOne. It will also continue its festival run with screenings in Rio, El Gouna, where it will have its North African premiere, and Film Africa. 

Still, Nigeria’s Oscar submission is only the beginning of the Academy process. Being selected as the country’s official entry does not guarantee a place among the final nominees. The film must first make it through the shortlist stage, with the Academy set to announce its shortlists on December 15, 2026. Nominations will follow on January 21, 2027, ahead of the 99th Academy Awards ceremony on March 14, 2027.