Nigeria has chosen Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi as its official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards, placing the family drama in the race for the 2027 Oscars.

The Nigerian Official Selection Committee announced the decision after reviewing productions entered during its call for submissions, which ran from August 1 to 31, 2026.

The selection gives the film the country’s submission slot, subject to the Academy’s eligibility checks and voting process.

The announcement marks Nigeria’s return after the committee declined to submit a film for the 2026 Oscars. It received six entries for that edition, but a majority of members voted against putting forward any of the productions.

Nigeria had previously selected the Hausa-language film Mai Martaba for the 2025 awards, making Dear Ajayi the latest production chosen to represent the country in the category.

Committee chairperson, Stephanie Linus, congratulated the filmmakers as they prepared for the next stage.

“We congratulate the filmmakers behind Dear Ajayi on their selection,” Linus said.

“We look forward to presenting the film for the Academy’s consideration and wish the team every success in the next stage of the process,” she told Arise News.

Written and directed by Orimogunje, Dear Ajayi follows two estranged sisters whose mother’s illness forces them to share a home. Set in southwestern Nigeria in the 1990s, the story examines the friction between family responsibilities and personal choices.

Ade, a devout Christian and the family’s breadwinner, struggles to understand Titi, an aspiring singer whose ambitions clash with her expectations. Caring for their paralysed mother brings their disagreements into daily life and forces them to confront the resentment behind their separation.

Bimbo Akintola plays Ade, Tosin Adeyemi portrays Titi, while Lanre Hassan plays their mother. The film uses Yoruba, English and Igbo dialogue.

The Nigeria-Germany production also competed at the 2026 Giornate degli Autori, an independent programme held alongside the Venice International Film Festival. Its production partners include Nigeria’s 2o9ine Films, Depth and Optics Productions and Zynox Productions, alongside Germany’s Mayana Films.

The Nigerian selection committee handles the national assessment and submission process. However, its endorsement does not constitute an Oscar nomination. The Academy determines eligibility and conducts the voting that decides which films advance.

According to the Academy’s official timetable, preliminary voting will run from December 7 to 11, 2026, followed by the shortlist announcement on December 15.

Nomination voting is scheduled for January 11 to 15, 2027. The Academy will announce the nominees on January 21, ahead of the awards ceremony on March 14.