Madagascar unveils its first Oscar submission Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story

Madagascar submitted the Luck of Razanajaona Disco Africa: A Malagasy story in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, making it his first ever appearance at the Academy Awards.

News of the submission comes amid political turmoil in the Indian Ocean country, located off the southeast coast of Africa, following last week’s coup by Colonel Michael Randrianirina.

The regime change follows protests led by thousands of young people, sparked by corruption and a lack of essential services such as water and electricity, with Randrianirina promising free and fair elections within two years.

The entry deadline for the Best International Feature Film award was October 1 at 5 p.m., but some countries are only publicly declaring their nominees now.

Deadline was informed of Madagascar’s entry this weekend by the film’s producer Jonathan Rubin of Paris-based We Films and Malagasy film organization Malagasy Cinema.

“Disco Africa: A Malagasy story by Luck Razanajaona has been officially selected by Malagasy Cinema, the committee responsible for choosing the country’s Oscar entries,” he wrote, adding that this was the country’s first entry in the Best International Feature Film category.

This current affairs film, premiering in the Generation 14plus section of the Berlinale in 2024, is set in contemporary Madagascar and follows 20-year-old Kwame who struggles to make a living in clandestine sapphire mines.

When an unexpected event brings him back to his hometown, he reunites with his mother and old friends but is also confronted with the corruption plaguing his country, sparking a political awakening.

After its debut at the Berlinale, the film was screened at more than 60 festivals around the world, including the Marrakech International Film Festival, the Namur International Francophone Film Festival, Toronto Next Wave and the Seattle International Film Festival.

It was also released theatrically in over 10 territories, including Madagascar, France, the United Kingdom, Kenya and West Africa.

The film is produced by We Films in co-production with Africamadavibe (Madagascar), NiKo Films (Germany, Caméléon Production (Mauritius) and Free Women Films (South Africa).

Parista Sambo leads the cast as Kwame with members including Laurette Ramasinjanahary, Joe Lerova, Drwina Razafimahaleo and Jérôme Oza.

In the background, the inauguration of Randrianirina as the new president of Madagascar on October 15, which forced former president Andry Rajoelina to flee the country, sparked mixed reactions in the country and more widely in the region.

Many Malagasy welcome the removal of Rajoelina, who clung to power amid protests, after himself being brought to power in a coup in 2009 and then elected president in 2018.

However, some parts of the population are worried about the army’s intervention, while the African Union, which brings together more than 50 African countries, announced that it was suspending Madagascar as a member.

News of Madagascar’s application brings the number of declared applications to 90. The Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences is currently reviewing the eligibility of applications.