‘Lionheart’, a directorial debut
movie by Genevieve Nnaji, veteran Nigerian actress, has been selected to
represent Nollywood at the 2020 Oscars.
The Nigerian Oscars Selection
Committee (NOSC) announced it as the country’s submission to the ‘International
Feature Film’ category of award — 13 months after the critically acclaimed film
premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The announcement comes shortly
after NOSC had recently commenced a statutory vetting and subsequent voting of
entries received from Nigerian filmmakers within the country and in the
diaspora.
Since the 12-man committee was
inaugurated in 2014, this would be the first time a movie from Nigeria would be
making it to the Oscars as previous entries received by NOSC have not met the
basic criteria to be enlisted.
“Filmmakers are gradually taking
the Oscar rules into consideration, and I have no doubt that it is going to be
more competitive, going forward,” Chineze Anyaene, Nollywood film producer and
director who chairs the committee, said.
“While we cannot say that what we
have are the best that Nigeria is capable of producing, it is
heart-lifting to know that, from the
strength of the entries received this year, we are truly ready for the Oscars.”
‘Lionhaert’, produced by Chinny
Onwugbenu and directed by Nnaji, was released worldwide on January 4, 2019, and
acquired on September 7, 2018, as the first Netflix original film produced in
Nigeria.
Aside from Nnaji, those who
participated in film are Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, Onyeka Onwenu, Kanayo .O.
Kanayo, Chika Okpala, Kalu Ikeagwu, Sanni Mu’azu, Yakubu Mohammed, Ngozi
Ezeonu, Peter Okoye (P-Square) and Chibuzor Azubuike (Phyno).
The 92nd Academy Awards will take
place on February 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, US.
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