Ernest Nkosi’s award-winning drama, "Thina Sobabili: The Two of Us," has been selected as the South African entry for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar consideration at the 88th Academy Awards next year.

The 2015 film, produced, written and directed by Ernest Nkosi, is set in Johannesburg, and tells a story of older brother Thulas, who will do anything to protect his younger sister, Zanele, after witnessing her abuse as a child. As a result, the two share a very strained relationship and when Zanele finally falls for the charms of an older man, Thulas is determined, at all costs, to protect his sister by putting an end to their relationship.

Independently funded by The Monarchy Group over a four year period and filmed in a week, "Thina Sobabili: The Two of Us" made its world premiere at the Durban International Film Festival last year.

Starring Richard Lukunku, Thato Dhladla, and Busisiwe Mtshali, the film won the Audience Award at the 2015 Pan African Film Festival, and the same award at the Jozi Film Festival this year.

South Africa has submitted films for Best Foreign Language Oscar consideration since 1989. Since then, 2 South African films have gone on to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film: Darrell Roodt’s "Yesterday" (2004) and Gavin Hood’s "Tsotsi" (2005), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film that year, at the 78th Academy Awards, still the only South African film to do so.

Could this year make it number 2? We’ll find out more when the Academy announces the eventual 5 films that will contend for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2016.

Trailer for "The Two of Us" below:

Ernest Nkosi

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