Imran Hamdulay’s debut feature The Heart Is a Muscle as South Africa’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards®.
South Africa has selected Imran Hamdulay’s debut feature, The Heart Is a Muscle, as its official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards®. The film joins a legacy of powerful local stories making their mark on the global stage.
The Heart Is a Muscle was written and directed by Imran Hamdulay and produced by Adam Thal of The Star Film Company, Khosie Dali, Brett Michael Innes, and actor Lesley-Ann Brandt.
The NFVF says the selection came after a detailed review process by the South African Academy Awards Selection Committee, made up of 13 industry professionals across directing, producing, distribution, academia, and technical fields.
The Heart Is a Muscle explores the bond between fathers and sons, and the weight of what gets passed down. Set on the Cape Flats, it’s a story about healing, forgiveness, and belonging that reaches far beyond its setting. At the centre is a man learning to face inherited trauma and step into the father and husband he wants to be.
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 at the Academy Awards this year.”- Imran Hamdulay
From the Oscar triumph of Tsotsi to the acclaim of Yesterday, Inxeba, and Life, Above All, SA has long left its mark on the Academy Awards. Now The Heart Is a Muscle steps into that legacy, carrying local cinema onto the world stage once again.
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. Despite the heart-felt story’s resonance across racial groups and geographic borders, it is depicted in a specific South African cultural setting that is not often represented which enables a great opportunity for our industry. The performances are fantastic and the film reminds one about the power of cinema to move the hearts and minds of audiences. The film’s selection by the committee and submission through this process underscores the NFVF’s ongoing commitment to nurturing and promoting South African talent internationally.”- NFVF Acting CEO, Ms Onke Dumeko
10and5 congratulates the filmmakers, cast, and crew of The Heart Is a Muscle on this milestone and wishes them luck with their entry to the 98th Academy Awards®.
