The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Academy Awards has officially selected Dear Ajayi, a period drama directed, written, and produced by Damilola Orimogunje, as the country’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards (Oscars 2027).
The selection marks a significant moment for Nigerian cinema, signaling a return to the international Oscar race after the country did not submit an entry for the 2026 edition. Announcing the decision, NOSC Chairperson Stephanie Linus praised the film’s artistic depth and story execution.
“We congratulate the filmmakers behind Dear Ajayi on their selection,” Linus said in a statement. “We look forward to presenting the film for the Academy’s consideration and wish the team every success in the next stage of the process.”
Set in southwestern Nigeria during the 1990s, Dear Ajayi is a Nigeria-Germany co-production that centres on two estranged sisters, Ade and Titi Ajayi. Ade, played by veteran actress Bimbo Akintola, is a devout Christian and the steady, primary caregiver of the household. Tosin Adeyemi portrays Titi, an ambitious, free-spirited aspiring singer whose lifestyle contrasts sharply with her sister’s rigid world.
When their ailing, paralysed mother—played by Nollywood legend Lanre Hassan (Mama Rainbow)—comes to live with them, the sisters are forced to share space under one roof. The forced proximity reopens old emotional wounds, bringing years of unspoken resentment, conflicting ambitions, and family secrets to the surface.
Blending dialogue in Yoruba, English, and Igbo, the narrative explores themes of grief, faith, reconciliation, and personal freedom. The ensemble cast also includes William Benson, Antar Laniyan, Uzoamaka Power, Michelle Dede, and Chioma “Chigul” Omeruah.
Dear Ajayi arrives on the Oscar radar backed by notable international accolades. The film had its world premiere in the prestigious Giornate degli Autori section at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim and clinched the Giornate degli Autori Premio Enrico Fulchignoni along with the CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Prize. It is also slated for a UK showcase at Film Africa in London.
Featuring cinematography by KC Obiajulu and an original score composed by Ré Olunuga, the film has been praised for its authentic visual texture and atmospheric portrayal of 1990s Nigeria.
As Nigeria’s candidate, Dear Ajayi will undergo evaluation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences alongside submissions from film boards around the globe. To advance in the race, the film must qualify for the Academy’s shortlist of 15 titles, which will be announced on December 15, 2026. The final five official nominees for Best International Feature Film will be revealed on January 21, 2027, ahead of the 99th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on March 14, 2027.
