Ghana · Creative industry
How Ghana’s first Oscar entry compares with today’s two submission routes
Ghana first entered the Academy’s international feature race with Azali in 2019. For the 99th Academy Awards, the official country selection remains a route. A non-English-language film can also qualify for submission by winning one of six specified festival awards.
Sources checked
- 01Route 1: national selection
An Academy-approved committee selects the official country or region entry. Source 2
- 02Route 2: qualifying festival win
A non-English-language film wins one of the specified awards. Source 3
- 03Submit for consideration
The Academy applies the category rules and submission requirements. Source 4
- 04Nomination and award attribution
The film receives the nominee credit under the 99th rules. Source 2
The two routes lead to submission for consideration. The data table lists all six qualifying awards.
Azali was Ghana’s first entry
The Academy’s 2019 announcement lists Azali, directed by Kwabena Gyansah, among 93 country submissions for the 92nd awards. It identifies Ghana as a first-time entrant. The record confirms submission for consideration. Source 1
A national selection remains one route
The Academy continues to accept official selections from countries or regions through Academy-approved committees. The submissions checklist sets out the materials needed for the competition. The published 99th awards deadline for this category was 30 September 2026. Source 2 Source 4
Six award wins can provide another route
The Academy names awards at Berlin, Busan, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and Venice. The specific award matters. A festival screening, participation in an industry market or a win in a different category does not itself meet the named-award route. Source 2 Source 3
The nominee credit changed for the 99th awards
The Academy said it will credit the film as nominee and the director will accept the award on behalf of the creative team. The director’s name goes on the plaque after the film title and applicable country or region credit. This change concerns nomination and award attribution. Source 2
Sources
- Academy Press Office, the 92nd Academy Awards international feature submissions
- Academy Press Office, approved rules for the 99th Academy Awards
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, international feature film rules and specified festivals
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 99th international feature submission checklist