A group of prominent Nepali filmmakers has filed a formal complaint with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences challenging the selection of “Anjila” as Nepal‘s Oscar submission, alleging procedural violations and conflicts of interest in the selection process. But the film’s director is firing back, claiming rivals offered up to $100,000 to unseat his movie.
The controversy centers on “Anjila,” a biographical drama about Anjila Tumbapo Subba, captain and goalkeeper of Nepal’s national women’s soccer team, with Subba playing herself in the lead role. The film follows her journey from being confined within her home to becoming team captain, showcasing her struggles against societal expectations and determination to excel in sports.
In a written statement provided to Variety, “Anjila” director Milan Chams dismisses the protest as “personal disappointment” and claims Samundra Bhatta, director of competing film “Gunyo Cholo,” offered up to $100,000 to get “Anjila” withdrawn from consideration while boasting about Academy connections through her executive producer.
“She expressed complete confidence that her film would be selected, citing personal relationships with committee members,” Chams said. “The final decision came as a shock to her.”
The Academy declined to comment.
The controversy erupted when Nepal’s Oscar selection committee announced “Anjila” as the country’s International Feature submission on Sept. 5, following what critics say was a rigged nine-day application window during a national crisis that included curfews and the Prime Minister’s resignation.
According to the complaint, Jeevan Kumar Parajuli served as both a voting committee member and the media coordinator for “Anjila,” creating what the complainants describe as an obvious conflict of interest.
The selection committees for all countries are required to adhere to the rules and regulations of the international feature award to be eligible for submissions. However, selection committees can create their own process to determine their selection as long as it meets the requirements of the category. Committees are required to publish their film selection process. That process can be published on social media, a website or an announcement made through the media.
“This is so unfair to Nepali filmmakers,” Ram Krishna Pokharel wrote on social media. “Not announcing the call for entries publicly but secretly selecting a film is not acceptable.”
The rebels, led by Deepak Rauniyar and Binod Paudel, fired off a scathing letter to the Academy demanding a full investigation and threatening to blow up Nepal’s Oscar dreams entirely.
According to the rules and regulations for the 98th Oscars, all submissions, applications and materials for international feature must be submitted to the Academy by Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. PT. After the submission deadline, all entries are vetted to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements. The International Feature Film Executive Committee will address any issues and questions regarding eligibility in accordance with the award rules and selection committee guidelines.
Noteworthy, the Academy does not intervene or dictate the processes and procedures of each country’s selection committee. When an established and approved selection committee meets the requirements of the category, the selection is considered to be in good standing.
Rauniyar’s “Pooja, Sir” premiered at Venice and has been collecting awards across the festival circuit. Bhatta’s “Gunyo Cholo,” executive produced by Rithy Panh, tackles transgender identity in Nepal. Paudel’s “Bhutan – The World’s Happiest Man” stars veteran Nepali actors alongside Hollywood veteran Bruce Dern.
The complaint alleges the selection committee operated in near-total secrecy, with international members allegedly not even watching all submitted films. The application window was slashed from the usual month-long period to just nine days, buried during a national crisis when many filmmakers were literally unable to access government offices due to civil unrest.
“Many teams learned of the call only after closure,” the filmmakers wrote in their Academy complaint, seen by Variety.
But Chams isn’t backing down, claiming the real story is sour grapes from competitors who thought they had the fix in. “I am aware that there was dissatisfaction among a few filmmakers and their close circles. However, this appears to be driven more by personal interest than by objective critique,” he said in his statement.
“She informed me that she and her Executive Producer were willing to pay up to $100,000 USD if necessary, and publicly stated both on her own Facebook wall and in a comment on my post – that she was ready to contribute NPR1,000,000 [$7,040] to secure the nomination,” Chams said.
The filmmakers are demanding Nepal restart the entire process with a transparent, 30-day application window and independent oversight – essentially asking the Academy to declare the current selection invalid.
“This request concerns process, not the artistic merits of any single film,” the complaint states.
The Oscars will announce the official eligible submissions before the start of the preliminary voting.
