"Lawrence of Arabia" is a 1962 British drama based on the life of T.E. Lawrence, a British diplomat and army officer known for his role in the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnzhistory.govt.nz%2Fwar%2Fottoman-empire%2Farab-revolt" target="_blank" target="_blank">Arab Revolt </a>during World War I. In 1963, the film won seven <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oscars.org%2Foscars%2Fceremonies%2F1963" target="_blank" target="_blank">Academy Awards</a>, including Best Picture and Best Director. But the history-making moment came for Egyptian Omar Sharif (pictured here in a scene from the film), whose bid for Actor in a Supporting Role made him the first African actor to be nominated in any Oscar category. <strong>Click through the gallery for more memorable moments from African films and filmmakers at the Academy Awards.</strong>
"Lawrence of Arabia" is a 1962 British drama based on the life of T.E. Lawrence, a British diplomat and army officer known for his role in the Arab Revolt during World War I. In 1963, the film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. But the history-making moment came for Egyptian Omar Sharif (pictured here in a scene from the film), whose bid for Actor in a Supporting Role made him the first African actor to be nominated in any Oscar category. Click through the gallery for more memorable moments from African films and filmmakers at the Academy Awards.
Columbia Pictures/Getty Images
Released in 1969, "Z" is an Algerian-French political thriller based on a 1966 novel written by Greek author Vassilis Vassilikos. It became the first African film to win an Academy Award in 1970, picking up both Best Foreign Language Film (now the International Feature category) and Best Film Editing.
Released in 1969, "Z" is an Algerian-French political thriller based on a 1966 novel written by Greek author Vassilis Vassilikos. It became the first African film to win an Academy Award in 1970, picking up both Best Foreign Language Film (now the International Feature category) and Best Film Editing.
LMPC/Getty Images
Seven years later, "Black And White In Color" (1976) would win the continent's second Best Foreign Language Film award. Set in the Ivory Coast and directed by Frenchman Jean-Jacques Annaud, the movie follows French colonists in Central Africa during World War I.
Seven years later, "Black And White In Color" (1976) would win the continent's second Best Foreign Language Film award. Set in the Ivory Coast and directed by Frenchman Jean-Jacques Annaud, the movie follows French colonists in Central Africa during World War I.
LMPC/Getty Images
Jonas Gwangwa (pictured here at a 2017 jazz festival in South Africa) was a legendary trombonist, composer and anti-apartheid activist. The jazz musician, who died in January, left his native South Africa in 1961 and spent <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2021%2F01%2F28%2Farts%2Fmusic%2Fjonas-gwangwa-dead.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">30 years in exile</a> in the United States. In 1988, his music for the film "Cry Freedom" was nominated for both Original Song and Original Score at the 60th Academy Awards.
Jonas Gwangwa (pictured here at a 2017 jazz festival in South Africa) was a legendary trombonist, composer and anti-apartheid activist. The jazz musician, who died in January, left his native South Africa in 1961 and spent 30 years in exile in the United States. In 1988, his music for the film "Cry Freedom" was nominated for both Original Song and Original Score at the 60th Academy Awards.
Veli Nhlapo/Sowetan/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Trefor Proud (L) and Christine Blundell hold their Oscar statues after winning the Best Makeup category at the 2000 Academy Awards for their work on the film "Topsy-Turvy." Proud was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, making him the first African to win in this category.
Trefor Proud (L) and Christine Blundell hold their Oscar statues after winning the Best Makeup category at the 2000 Academy Awards for their work on the film "Topsy-Turvy." Proud was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, making him the first African to win in this category.
Reuters
"Monster" (2003) is an American crime drama directed by Patty Jenkins. The film is based on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a sex worker who killed several of her male clients. In 2004, South African actor Charlize Theron (pictured here in a scene from the movie) won an Academy Award for her leading role in the film.
"Monster" (2003) is an American crime drama directed by Patty Jenkins. The film is based on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a sex worker who killed several of her male clients. In 2004, South African actor Charlize Theron (pictured here in a scene from the movie) won an Academy Award for her leading role in the film.
Gene Page/Mdp/New Market/Kobal/Shutterstock
Theron's win for Best Actress in a Leading Role made her the first African woman to win an Oscar.
Theron's win for Best Actress in a Leading Role made her the first African woman to win an Oscar.
J. Vespa/WireImage/Getty Images
Two years later, South Africa would find more success at the Academy Awards. "Tsotsi" (2005) is a crime drama about a young gang member who steals a car -- only to discover a baby in the backseat. In 2006, the film won Best Foreign Language Film, a first for South Africa. The win garnered plenty of attention back home; leading actors Presley Chweneyagae (left) and Terry Pheto (right), with director Gavin Hood, are pictured here with former president Nelson Mandela.
Two years later, South Africa would find more success at the Academy Awards. "Tsotsi" (2005) is a crime drama about a young gang member who steals a car -- only to discover a baby in the backseat. In 2006, the film won Best Foreign Language Film, a first for South Africa. The win garnered plenty of attention back home; leading actors Presley Chweneyagae (left) and Terry Pheto (right), with director Gavin Hood, are pictured here with former president Nelson Mandela.
Nic Bothma/EPA/Shutterstock
"Hors La Loi" ("Outside the Law") is a 2010 crime drama directed by Algerian-French director Rachid Bouchareb. The movie is about three young brothers who lose their home and get separated from each other. In 2011, it was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
"Hors La Loi" ("Outside the Law") is a 2010 crime drama directed by Algerian-French director Rachid Bouchareb. The movie is about three young brothers who lose their home and get separated from each other. In 2011, it was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.
Tessalit Films
In 2014, Africa enjoyed another historic moment at the Oscars when Kenyan actor Lupita Nyong'o became the first Black African woman to win an Academy Award. Nyong'o won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in "12 Years a Slave" -- a film based on the life of Solomon Northup, a free African-American who was kidnapped and sold into slavery.
In 2014, Africa enjoyed another historic moment at the Oscars when Kenyan actor Lupita Nyong'o became the first Black African woman to win an Academy Award. Nyong'o won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in "12 Years a Slave" -- a film based on the life of Solomon Northup, a free African-American who was kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
"Timbuktu" brought Mauritania to the Oscars in 2015, when it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. A Mauritanian-French drama directed by Abderrahmane Sissako (pictured here with some cast members and guests at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival), the film is centered on a cattle herder and was inspired in part by the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2012%2F08%2F02%2Fworld%2Fafrica%2Fmali-couple-stoned%2Findex.html" target="_blank">public stoning </a>of an unmarried couple in 2012 in Mali.
"Timbuktu" brought Mauritania to the Oscars in 2015, when it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. A Mauritanian-French drama directed by Abderrahmane Sissako (pictured here with some cast members and guests at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival), the film is centered on a cattle herder and was inspired in part by the public stoning of an unmarried couple in 2012 in Mali.
Dominique Charriau/Le Film Francais/WireImage/Getty Images