Bulelwa Hoala

South African short film The Last Ranger has been nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
This follows the announcement of the nominees in Los Angeles on Thursday – albeit after two delays due to the ongoing fires in the area.
Point of View Refilwe spoke to the film’s lead actor Avumile Qongqo.
Listen to the full conversation here:
The multi-award winning film is directed by Cindy Lee and produced by Kindred Films.
It is also supported by Rose and Oaks Media, a production company co-owned by radio host Anele Mdoda.
According to reports, The Last Ranger explores the theme of rhino poaching and conservation efforts.
It tells the story of Lita (played by Liyabona Mroqoza) who is captivated by the wonders of a game reserve, guided by the last ranger, Khuselwa (played by Avumile Qongqo).
“When young Litha is introduced to the magic of a game reserve by the last remaining ranger, they are ambushed by poachers. In the ensuing battle to save the rhinos, Litha discovers a terrible secret,” a synopsis on IMDb reads.
An elated Anele Mdoda proudly celebrated the Oscar nod by posting a video of the moment the film was nominated.
“South Africa!!!! We have been nominated for an Oscar!!!!!!!!!!! The Last Ranger @thelastrangerfilm is going to win it and bring it home,” Anele wrote on Instagram.
News 24 says The Last Ranger from Cindy Lee and Darwin Shaw is competing against the following films in the Best Live Action Short Film category:
The United States’ A Lien from Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz, India’s Anuja from Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai, the Dutch entry I’m Not a Robot from Victoria Warmerdam and Trent, as well as Croatia’s The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent from Nebojša Slijepčević and Danijel Pek.
The Oscars are scheduled to take place on Sunday, 2 March at The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will be hosted by American comedian Conan O’Brien.
See the full list of Oscar nominees below:
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Emilia Perez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
Best Director
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perez
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
Best Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothee Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofia Gascon, Emilia Perez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres
Best Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez
Best Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Best Adapted Screenplay
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Emilia Perez
Nickel Boys
Sing Sing
Best Original Screenplay
Anora
The Brutalist
A Real Pain
September 5
The Substance
Animated Feature
Flow
Inside Out 2
Memoir Of A Snail
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
The Wild Robot
Best International Feature Film
I’m Still Here, Brazil
The Girl With The Needle, Denmark
Emilia Perez, France
The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Flow, Latvia
Best Documentary Short
Death By Numbers
I Am Ready, Warden
Incident
Instruments of a Beating Heart
The Only Girl in the Orchestra
Best Cinematography
The Brutalist
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Perez
Maria
Nosferatu
Best Costume Design
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Gladiator II
Nosferatu
Wicked
Film Editing
Anora
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Perez
Wicked
Makeup and Hairstyling
A Different Man
Emilia Perez
Nosferatu
The Substance
Wicked
Original Score
The Brutalist
Conclave
Emilia Perez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Original Song
Production Design
The Brutalist
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Nosferatu
Wicked
Best Sound
A Complete Unknown
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Perez
Wicked
The Wild Robot
Visual Effects
Alien: Romulus
Better Man
Dune: Part Two
Kingdom of The Planet of the Apes
Wicked
Documentary Feature
Black Box Diaries
No Other Land
Porcelain War
Soundtrack To A Coup D’Etat
Sugarcane
Animated Short Film
Beautiful Men
In The Shadow Of The Cypress
Magic Candies
Wander to Wonder
Yuck!
Live Action Short Film
A Lien
Anuja
I’m Not A Robot
The Last Ranger
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent



