Rojek Goes After an Oscar®
by Staff Editors
(August 24, 2023 – Toronto, ON) The stunning and lengthy documentary Rojek has been given the honour of representing Canada in the competition for Best International Feature Film at the 2014 Academy Awards. The announcement was made today in Montréal. Directed by Zaynê Akyol and distributed by Maison 4:3, the film offers an intimate gaze at an unknown reality, testifying of pivotal moments experienced by the actors of this conflict and tackles how this ideological war is only the beginning of a new kind of threat.
“In what may have been Canada’s most competitive year ever, Rojek was selected by a jury of industry peers as the film to best represent Canada in the Oscar® race,” said Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO, of Telefilm Canada. “This announcement marks the beginning of an incredible journey and a one-of-a-kind opportunity for ROJEK to reach audiences around the world and give them just a taste of the quality of filmmaking that Canada has to offer. We wish Zaynê, Metafilms, and the entire creative team all the best of luck as they move forward.”
The documentary is told in a mix of Arabic, English, French, and Kurdish, Rojek premiered at the 2022 Visions du Réel Film Festival in Nyon, Switzerland. It has screened at festivals around the world, including winning the DGC Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature Documentary at the 2022 Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival.
“Being chosen to represent Canada at the Oscars® with ROJEK is a tremendous honour,” said Zaynê Akyol, director, writer, and producer. “I would like to express my deep gratitude to the pan-Canadian selection committee for this recognition. Also, a sincere thank you to my dedicated team, who continually pushed the boundaries of creativity and excellence. This moment is the fruit of our shared passion and unwavering commitment to cinema and justice.”
The choice of Rojek was determined by a pan-Canadian committee of industry organizations and guilds, as well as filmmakers and industry professionals appointed to represent organizations. Overall, 28 films were submitted for consideration as Canada’s Choice this year. The committee met on the morning of August 24 to select the film. So far, seven countries have submitted their entries for the Best International Feature Film category. Last year, 93 countries submitted a film. The 96th Academy Awards® will be held on March 10, 2024.
Watch the trailer and learn more about Rojek on Northernstars.ca
SOURCE: Telefilm Canada
