The Oscar Selection Committee in Kenya has selected the film Mission To Rescue as the country’s submission to the 94th Edition of Academy Awards.

Mission To Rescue will represent Kenya under the Best International Feature Film Category at the Academy Awards.

According to the Kenya Film Commission, there were four Kenyan films submitted for  the Oscar entry namely: Mukami, Mission To Rescue, Bangarang and Kiapo.

A country can only submit a single film to the Oscar race and the choice must be made by an Academy-accredited group within each country. Voting to produce a 15-film shortlist begins on Dec. 10, and within a couple of weeks Academy members who volunteer for the category will receive “required viewing” lists of films they must see.

Synopsis

Mission to Rescue is a 2019 Kenyan action film directed by Gilbert Lukalia.

The star-studded movie is set in a military camp along the Kenya- Somali border and captures the story of Kenya Special Operations Forces who are out to rescue an Assistant County Commissioner and two others following an abduction by the Al-Shabaab militia. Under the leadership of Captain Baraza, the soldiers make attempts to rescue the abductees and capture or eliminate the enemy amidst tough conditions.

The story is informed by the 2011 abduction of a  French by the Al-Shabab in Lamu. Marie Dedieu (66) who was taken from a beachfront holiday resort died in captivity, about three weeks after her abduction.

The film’s star-studded cast features; Melvin Alusa, Warsame Abdi, Abdi Yusuf, Emmanuel Mugo, Andreo Kamau, Abubakar Mwenda, Sam Psenjen, Anthony Ndung’u, Bilal Mwaura, Justin Mirichi, Abajah Brian, Melissa Kiplagat, Brian Ogola, and Mwamburi Maole.

The film seeks to highlight the effects of radicalization within the community that aim to curb terrorism.