This is the documentary Rojekby Montreal director Zaynê Akyol, who has been selected to represent Canada in the running for the Academy Award for Best International Picture, Telefilm Canada announced on Thursday.
Rojek was selected by a pan-Canadian jury from around 20 delegates representing major government agencies and Canadian film industry associations.
In Rojek, a Quebec box Métafilms production, Zaynê Akyol met some of the key members of the Islamic State (IS) during their captivity.
This is the second year in a row that Canada has selected a documentary to represent it at the Oscars, following last year’s Eternal Spring. Remember, Canada hasn’t received an Oscar nomination since Kim Nguyen’s “Rebel” ten years ago.
Quebec filmmaker Denys Arcand’s “Les Invasions Barbares” is the only Canadian film to date to have won an Oscar in this category in 2004.
The five films nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Film will be announced when the finalists are announced next January. The 96th Academy Awards will take place on March 10, 2024 in Los Angeles.