“Azali” isn’t the first Ghanaian film at Oscars - Animator Francis Y. Brown refutes claims

The drama film directed by Kwabena Gyansah was nominated for the “Best International Feature Film” at the 92nd Academy Awards – a feat many believe is the first time in history.

But Francis Y. Brown has come forward with a fact which disputes the claims.

“Agorkoli” – a 2015 Ghanaian animated film produced by National Film and Television Institute and directed by Francis Y. Brown – is said to be the first ever Ghanaian film to enter Oscars.

According to him, the animated film was shortlisted for the Student Academy Awards in 2015 – an extension of the Oscars.

He took to Facebook on September 29, to congratulate the producer of “Azali” and further clarified the issue.

Brown wrote (unedited): “ATTENTION! Certain publications have recently caught my eye regarding the nominees for the OSCARS of which Ghana has been represented. As someone who loves Ghana and wants our creatives to gain international recognition, this is great news!

While I congratulate and positively acknowledge the nominees and the processes employed in making the selection, I must also subtly educe some noteworthy facts that may have either been mis-recollected or mischievously omitted.

AGORKOLI, which was produced in 2015 by National Film and Television Institute and directed and animated by myself (Francis Y. Brown), Ghana, was duly shortlisted for the Student Academy Awards (2015), an extension of the OSCARS. It was (and still is) Ghana's first.

AZALI was shortlisted this year to represent Ghana at the OSCARS in similar respect. It is Ghana's second.

For the sake of clarity and record, and to prevent erasure, it is imperative for me to respectfully state that any misrepresentation of these facts goes against the principles of what we, as an emerging creative industry here in Ghana, must aspire to become. Publications in this respect must be guided, and do its due diligence in checking facts moving forward.”