This year, the National Cinematography Office decided to stake it all on the film “Yahan  Ameena Bikti” in the “Best Foreign Language Film” category. This is a feature film of 78 minutes, directed by Indian “Kumar Raj” in partnership with the Cameroonian studio MD4 Productions of Jean Louis Moussinga. The choice of this film for the Oscars competition enraged several well-known names in the Cameroonian cinema world such as Jean Pierre Bekolo (Director of famous Quartier Mozart – 1995) who consider it an “insult”. “Unbelievable but true! The Ministry of Arts and Culture of Cameroon nominated an Indian movie for the Oscars!!!!”, he posted two days ago on his Facebook page; generating a plethora of reactions.

In his communiqué, the Director of Cinematography, Dr Georges Madiba, listed his arguments. He specified that part of the shoot for this film was done in Cameroon, precisely in the town of Buea (South-Western region) with some local actors. But movie-makers are not swallowing it. Especially since the title of the movie tell a lot and that its story is based on a true event which occurred in Hyderabad, capital of the Telangana State in India. And to top it all, “Yahan Ameena Bikti” did not secure a nomination among the films selected for the 89^th Oscars edition; whose awards ceremony will take place on 26 February 2017 in Hollywood (Los Angeles).

“The film was not nominated for the Oscars, it was put up to represent Cameroon just like 88 other movies from 88 other countries. Out of the 89 films, only 5 were nominated and be informed that the Academy has already rejected Cameroon’s application”, specified a Cameroonian movie-maker, commenting on Jean Pierre Bekolo’s post. He continues by questioning the communiqué from Mr. Madiba which posited that it was the first time a Cameroonian movie was presented for the Oscars. “Contrary to what the author of this letter declares, this is not the first submission from Cameroon. In 1980 “Notre fille” by Daniel Kamwa was entered; even it did not get nominated”, writes the above-mentioned cineaste. Which, indeed, it is absolutely possible to verify.

A letter signed by Kumar Raj called Cameroonians to more pride for now having an access way to the Oscars. But that had already been provided by Daniel Kamwa in the same “Best Foreign Language Film” category.

Monique Ngo Mayag