Madagascar Makes First-Ever Oscar Submission with "Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story"

Madagascar has picked Luck Razanajaona’s "Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story" as its inaugural submission to the Academy Awards, marking the first time the Indian Ocean country, has entered the international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards.

News of the submission comes amid political turbulence in the country that is located off the Southeastern coast of Africa, following a coup last week by Colonel Michael Randrianirina.

While the cut-off for entry to the Best International Feature Film was at 5 p.m. on October 1, some countries are only publicly declaring their selections now.

“Disco Afrika: A Malagasy Story by Luck Razanajaona has been officially selected by Malagasy Cinema, the committee in charge of choosing the country’s Oscar submission,” he wrote, adding it was the country’s first entry to the Best International Feature Film category.

The film, which world premiered in the Berlinale’s Generation 14plus section in 2024, is set in contemporary Madagascar and follows 20-year-old Kwame as he struggles to make a living in clandestine sapphire mines. 

When an unexpected event takes him back to his hometown, he is reunited with his mother and old friends but also confronted by the corruption that plagues his country, sparking a political awakening.

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

It has also been released theatrically in more than 10 territories, including Madagascar, France, the UK, Kenya, and West Africa.

The film is lead produced by We Films in coproduction 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.

News of the Madagascar entry brings the number of declared entries to 91. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is currently vetting the submissions for eligibility.