South Africa has selected The Heart Is a Muscle, written and directed by Imran Hamdulay, to represent the country in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
The Heart Is a Muscle is a drama that follows Ryan (portrayed by Keenan Arrison), a father who, while celebrating his son Jude’s fifth birthday, is plunged into crisis when Jude disappears. In his frantic search, Ryan confronts violent impulses and buried secrets, ultimately having to reckon with patterns of trauma and the possibility of redemption.
Also starring in the film are Melissa De Vries (as Laila), Loren Loubser, Dean Marais, and Ridaa Adams.
Hamdulay commented on the selection, saying, “The film is very close to my heart. It’s a shared story born from the voices and experiences of the community around it and we’re just so thrilled to have it as South Africa’s entry into the Academy Awards.”
The Heart Is a Muscle premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in the Panorama section, where it was awarded the Panorama Ecumenical Jury Prize. It has since screened at festivals including the 72nd Sydney Film Festival and is slated for a South African premiere at the Silwerskerm Festival ahead of its theatrical release.
The selection was made by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the official body mandated to submit South African films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
NFVF Acting CEO, Ms Onke Dumeko commented, “The selection of The Heart Is A Muscle not only represents the incredible storytelling and creative excellence of South African filmmakers, but also highlights our nation’s ability to produce cinema that resonates globally.”
South Africa has submitted films for the International Feature Oscar since 1989, with two previous nominations and one win for Tsotsi, 2005.
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