Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founder of the Septimius Awards
Photo Credit by The Septimius Awards
Despite its nickname “The Oscars of Europe” and outstanding ambassadors akin to Stedman Graham (accomplice of Oprah Winfrey), the Septimius Awards goals to tell apart itself from the Oscars. For many years, the worldwide movie business has centered round Western narratives, with Hollywood on the focal point. While this dominance has produced numerous iconic movies, it has additionally left many non-Western tales within the shadows.
Filmmakers from Asia, Africa, and Oceania typically wrestle 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 business. But one man, Jan-Willem Breure, is working to vary that.
Breure’s Septimius Awards, held yearly in Amsterdam, have rapidly turn into a spot to be for filmmakers from everywhere in the world. The awards rejoice variety in its truest type by giving equal weight to movies from across the globe. “Every award ceremony has a cultural bias,” Breure admits. “But we’ve worked to minimize that by splitting our awards into five world regions and multiple handpicked categories.”
A Platform for Underrepresented Voices
The Septimius Awards have been born out of Breure’s want to flip the movie business on its head. Growing up in Rwanda and later transferring 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 exhibits, movies from non-Western international locations typically face vital resistance. Even when nominated, they’re often relegated to classes like “Best Foreign Film” somewhat than being thought-about for high honors like Best Picture. The Septimius Awards counters this by dividing their classes by continent—Best African Film, Best Asian Film, Best European Film, Best Oceanian Film, Best American Film and so forth—ensuring that every area receives its due recognition.
Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founder of the Septimius Awards
A Spotlight on Overlooked Masterpieces
This construction has already introduced consideration to movies that may have in any other case been neglected. Take “Maidaan,” an Indian movie that received Best Asian Film 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 satisfaction to India throughout a time of nice political upheaval. Despite its highly effective narrative and gorgeous performances, “Maidaan” may need struggled to search out recognition at extra Western-centric festivals. But 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 film Maidaan has been recognized as the Best Asian Film at the esteemed Septimius Awards in Amsterdam.” For Rao and his staff, this recognition was greater than a easy award—it was about having their story heard on a worldwide stage.
Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founder of the Septimius Awards
Films That Deserve Their Moment
“Maidaan” isn’t the one movie that has benefited from the inclusive nature of the Septimius Awards. In 2024, “Omen (Augure)” from Africa received the Best African Film award. Directed by Baloji Tshiani, this movie dives deep into themes of identification and belonging in post-colonial Africa. It is a fancy narrative that may have been too area of interest or unfamiliar for audiences at extra mainstream festivals. But at Septimius, it was celebrated for its boldness and originality.
Another standout from 2024 was “Uproar,” which received Best Oceanian Film. This New Zealand manufacturing tells the heartwarming story of a boy navigating life in a small city whereas coming to phrases together with his Indigenous heritage. Like “Omen,” it’s a movie rooted in particular cultural experiences that may not resonate with all audiences—however at Septimius, it discovered its place amongst different tales of world significance.
These movies are proof that nice cinema isn’t restricted by geography or language. They present that highly effective storytelling can come from wherever and that it deserves to be acknowledged irrespective of the place it originates.
Jan-Willem Breure Director and Founder of the Septimius Awards
A New Era for Global Cinema
The Septimius Awards needs to be part of a motion towards better 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 various backgrounds discover their voices amplified by means 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 Founder of the Septimius Awards
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