Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founding father of the Septimius Awards
Photograph Credit score by The Septimius Awards
Regardless of its nickname “The Oscars of Europe” and distinguished ambassadors reminiscent of Stedman Graham (associate of Oprah Winfrey), the Septimius Awards goals to tell apart itself from the Oscars. For many years, the worldwide movie trade has centered round Western narratives, with Hollywood on the focus. Whereas this dominance has produced numerous iconic movies, it has additionally left many non-Western tales within the shadows.
Filmmakers from Asia, Africa, and Oceania usually battle to get their works seen internationally, not to mention acknowledged at main award ceremonies just like the Oscars or BAFTAs. This underrepresentation has lengthy been a sore level for a lot of within the trade. However one man, Jan-Willem Breure, is working to alter that.
Breure’s Septimius Awards, held yearly in Amsterdam, have rapidly grow to be a spot to be for filmmakers from everywhere in the world. The awards rejoice variety in its truest kind by giving equal weight to movies from across the globe. “Each award ceremony has a cultural bias,” Breure admits. “However we’ve labored to attenuate that by splitting our awards into 5 world areas and a number of handpicked classes.”
A Platform for Underrepresented Voices
The Septimius Awards have been born out of Breure’s want to flip the movie trade on its head. Rising up in Rwanda and later shifting to Europe, he skilled firsthand how cultural biases can form perceptions and restrict alternatives. This private journey impressed him to create an award ceremony to rejoice cinematic excellence and provides underrepresented filmmakers an opportunity to shine.
At conventional award reveals, movies from non-Western nations usually face important resistance. Even when nominated, they’re often relegated to classes like “Greatest International Movie” quite than being thought-about for high honors like Greatest Image. The Septimius Awards counters this by dividing their classes by continent—Greatest African Movie, Greatest Asian Movie, Greatest European Movie, Greatest Oceanian Movie, Greatest American Movie and so forth—ensuring that every area receives its due recognition.
Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founding father of the Septimius Awards
A Highlight on Neglected Masterpieces
This construction has already introduced consideration to movies which may have in any other case been neglected. Take “Maidaan,” an Indian movie that gained Greatest Asian Movie on the 2024 Septimius Awards. Directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma and starring Ajay Devgn, it tells the story of Syed Abdul Rahim, a soccer coach who introduced pleasure to India throughout a time of nice political upheaval. Regardless of its highly effective narrative and beautiful performances, “Maidaan” might need struggled to seek out recognition at extra Western-centric festivals. However at Septimius, it was celebrated for each its creative advantage and its cultural significance.
Gajraj Rao, who acted in Maidaan, expressed his gratitude after the win, “Thrilled and deeply honored to share that our movie Maidaan has been acknowledged because the Greatest Asian Movie on the esteemed Septimius Awards in Amsterdam.” For Rao and his group, this recognition was greater than a easy award—it was about having their story heard on a world stage.
Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founding father of the Septimius Awards
Movies That Deserve Their Second
“Maidaan” shouldn’t be the one movie that has benefited from the inclusive nature of the Septimius Awards. In 2024, “Omen (Augure)” from Africa gained the Greatest African Movie award. Directed by Baloji Tshiani, this movie dives deep into themes of id and belonging in post-colonial Africa. It’s a advanced narrative which may have been too area of interest or unfamiliar for audiences at extra mainstream festivals. However at Septimius, it was celebrated for its boldness and originality.
One other standout from 2024 was “Uproar,” which gained Greatest Oceanian Movie. This New Zealand manufacturing tells the heartwarming story of a boy navigating life in a small city whereas coming to phrases along with his Indigenous heritage. Like “Omen,” it’s a movie rooted in particular cultural experiences which may not resonate with all audiences—however at Septimius, it discovered its place amongst different tales of worldwide significance.
These movies are proof that nice cinema shouldn’t be restricted by geography or language. They present that highly effective storytelling can come from anyplace and that it deserves to be acknowledged irrespective of the place it originates.
Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founding father of the Septimius Awards
A New Period for World Cinema
The Septimius Awards needs to be part of a motion towards higher inclusivity in cinema. By giving equal weight to movies from all continents, Breure is difficult conventional norms whereas concurrently encouraging filmmakers from underrepresented areas to maintain telling their tales.
For too lengthy, non-Western movies have been sidelined or tokenized at main festivals. The Septimius Awards want to change that narrative, creating an area the place these movies can stand on equal footing with their Western counterparts. As Breure himself places it, “True change stems from independence.”
With every passing yr, extra filmmakers from numerous backgrounds discover their voices amplified by way of this distinctive competition. As they do, they’re proving as soon as once more that nice cinema is aware of no borders.
Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founding father of the Septimius Awards