Press Release: South Africa Announces The Heart Is A Muscle as the Official Selection for the 98th Annual Academy Awards

Johannesburg, South Africa, 29 September 2025: 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, is proud to announce that the feature film, The Heart Is A Muscle has been selected as South Africa's official entry into the 98th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars) for the category, Best International Feature Film.

The selection follows a rigorous adjudication process conducted by the South African Academy Awards Selection Committee, a diverse panel of 13 professionals drawn from across the filmmaking value chain, including directing, producing, distribution, academic and technical expertise.

The committee convened from 8 to 11 September 2025 at Nu Metro Cinemas to review submissions. The final decision was officially made on 15 September 2025. The entire process was overseen and audited by the NFVF's appointed and reputable auditing firm, SNG Grant Thornton, ensuring the highest standards of integrity and fairness.

Written and directed by Imran Hamdulay, The Heart Is A Muscle was produced by The Star Film Company's Adam Thal, P.G.A, Khosie Dali, Brett Michael Innes and Lesley-Ann Brandt

The film explores bonds between fathers and sons through the lens of inter-generational healing and forgiveness and draws on experiences specific to the South Africa's Cape Flats neighbourhood yet speaks to the universal search for reconciliation and belonging. It traces a man struggling to confront inherited memories and through the slow work of forgiveness, learning how to become the father and husband he longs to be.

Imran Hamdulay, the director and writer of the film, says, 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 film premiered to critical praise at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), where it received the Panorama Ecumenical Jury Prize, quickly establishing itself as one of the year's standout global-cinema titles. It continues to be shown at festivals worldwide, including the 72nd Sydney Film Festival and the up-coming Cairo International Film Festival, among others.

NFVF Acting CEO, Ms Onke Dumeko expressed pride in the achievement: 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.

The NFVF congratulates the filmmakers, cast, and crew of The Heart Is A Muscle on this milestone achievement and looks forward to seeing South Africa represented at the Oscars in 2026.

ENDS.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lerato Mokopanele

Marketing and Communications Manager

Email: Leratom@nfvf.co.za

Web: www.nfvf.co.za

About the NFVF: The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is a statutory body mandated to promote and develop the South African film and video industry. It provides funding for film projects, facilitates training and skills development, and promotes South African content locally and internationally. The NFVF aims to create a sustainable and globally competitive industry that reflects the diverse stories and voices of South Africa.

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