By Samantha Ofole-Prince
Mati Diop’s “Dahomey” could be an Oscar contender in the Best International Film category.
A film about the return of African artifacts to their native land, “Dahomey” straddles between documentary and fiction and was written and directed by French Senegalese director Mati Diop.
No stranger to the Oscar circuit, Diop’s debut feature “Atlantics” was the Senegalese entry for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020.
A delicate piece which tracks the journey of royal treasures looted during colonization by France as they are returned to Africa, the film has been largely welcomed by film critics and the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) selected it as one of their top ten films of 2024.
“Dahomey” is one of fifteen films that will advance to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category for the 97th Academy Awards. Films from 85 countries and regions were eligible in the category.
Photos courtesy of A.M.P. A.S. and Royalty Images
