Dodoma, Sep 22 (Prensa Latina) Tanzania is opting for its first Oscar nomination in 20 years with the Swahili film Vuta N’kuvute, the film’s director, Amil Shivji, confirmed. The film, whose name translates as ‘tough fight,’ is a pre-candidate in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the 95th Academy Awards, to be held on March 12 next year.

Released in Swahili and featuring a mostly African cast, the film tells the story of a young Indian-Zanzibari girl whose romance blossoms after a political revolt in the last days of British imperial rule.

‘The future of Tanzanian cinema is finally in our hands; every day a wave of Swahili filmmakers with pride, intelligence and audacity is growing,’ Shivji posted on Instagram.

In September 2021, Vuta N’kuvute made history by becoming the first Tanzanian feature film to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada.

Tanzania’s first appearance at the Academy Awards was with the feature film Maangazi: The Ancient One, in 2002. ef/arm/mv/adr