African American Film Critics Association Names Inxeba Best Foreign Film

The build-up to the Oscars is taking shape as awards bodies announce their best films of the year. On 12 December, Inxeba (The Wound) was named the year’s Best Foreign Film by the African American Film Critics Association. The AAFC, the world’s largest group of professional black film critics, will present the award at the 9th annual AAFCA Awards ceremony on 7 February in Hollywood, as awards season is in full swing.

‘Inxeba’, a doomed love story between two men, starring musician and singer Nakhane, has been selected as South Africa’s entry into next year’s 90th Academy Awards®, known officially as The Oscars®, in the category of Best Foreign Language Film.

In 2016, the AAFCA bestowed ‘Moonlight’ with the award for best picture, after which the independent film went on to win the Best Picture Oscar®. A strong advocate for black stories, the AAFCA also named the Ava Duvernay series ‘Queen Sugar’ as Best Drama, and ‘Black-ish’ as Best Comedy in its television category. Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’, a psychological thriller that portraying the contemporary African-American experience, won four awards from the AAFCA, taking the trophies for best film, director, actor, and screenplay.

In Amsterdam this week ‘Inxeba’ was voted the Best Film at the International Queer & Migrant Film Festival.

“The Wound has earned international acclaim and won awards at several international film festivals. IQMF and Bijlmer Parktheater invite audiences to enjoy this beautiful study of clashing Xhosa models of masculinity.”

“Considering the wins around Inxeba, and the prestige of the AAFCA, which is comprised of African American journalists from across the US, this South African film is in the company of the best in the business,” says Helen Kuun, MD of Indigenous Film Distribution which is distributing the film locally. “The AAFCA recognises content that represents the global community, and encourages an environment where multiple voices are welcomed and championed. This award is a huge win for ‘Inxeba’, and for the filmmakers. We are proud to be representing it in South Africa.”

‘Inxeba’ just completed its Academy Awards® campaign in Los Angeles where key members of the creative team represented the film on the ground. “We held 10 exclusive screenings of the film in and around Hollywood over the course of 4 weeks.” explained producer Cait Pansegrouw. “Each screening was followed by a Q&A and a reception where we were able to discuss the film in detail with Academy® members. The film’s interrogation of toxic masculinity resonated deeply with the voters, given everything that is going on in the States at the moment, specifically in the film industry. We are feeling really hopeful about progressing further in the Oscars® race.”

The Oscars® shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film will be announced in the coming days and ‘Inxeba’ (The Wound) is releasing in cinemas in South Africa on 2 February 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubSlj-G4P6I

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb