Cameroon and Chad have joined the African countries that have so far submitted films for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, with the submission deadline set for 30 September 2026.
Cameroon has selected “Mabanda,” directed by Kang Quintus. The film is in Cameroonian Pidgin English.
Chad has submitted “Soumsoum, the Night of the Stars” (“Soumsoum, la nuit des astres”), directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun. The film is in French and Chadian Arabic.
They join Morocco, whose submission of Laïla Marrakchi’s “Strawberries” (“La más dulce”) was previously reported.
For the 99th Academy Awards, qualifying films must have received their first theatrical release in their submitting country between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. Beginning with this awards cycle, the Academy has also introduced a route allowing a non-English-language film to qualify for submission by winning specified awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival or Venice Film Festival.
Additional African submissions may be announced before the 30 September 2026 deadline.