Genevieve Nnaji’s ‘Lionheart’ is Nigeria’s submission for the Oscar
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/10/genevieve-nnajis-lionheart-is-nigerias.html
The Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC) has picked Genevieve
Nnaji’s ‘Lionheart’ as the country’s submission to the International
Feature Film category of the 2020 Oscars.
The group announced the selection today, following a statutory
vetting and subsequent voting of entries received from Nigerian
filmmakers at home and in the Diaspora.
Produced by Chinny Onwugbenu, Chichi Nwoko, Genevieve Nnaji, and
directed by Genevieve Nnaji, ‘Lionheart’ premiered at the 2018 Toronto
International Film Festival (TIFF), and was acquired on September 7,
2018, as first Netflix original film produced in Nigeria.
The film stars Pete Edochie, Genevieve Nnaji, 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).
Released worldwide on January 4, 2019 after a December 2018
theatrical release in Nigeria, ‘Lionheart’, which is Nnaji’s directorial
debut, tells the story of a young woman, Adaeze Obiagu (Genevieve
Nnaji), who becomes saddled with the responsibility of running her sick
father’s business under the suffocating supervision of an uncle, played
by Nkem Owoh. Adaeze’s competing business instincts and family
obligations become a catalyst for drastic change not everyone is ready
to embrace.
Since the inauguration of the NOSC in 2014, this is the first time
Nigeria is advancing a film to the Oscar, as previous entries received
by the committee did not meet basic criteria.
Among the films received this year, the NOSC said it picked ‘Lionheart’ for its considerable shots at the rules.
The 12-man team boasts of notable Nigeria’s film industry stakeholders of international standing.
The team is Chaired by Chineze Anyaene, Producer and Director of
‘Ije’; Nollywood’s remarkable box office earner and foremost filmmaker
and Chairman of Audio-Visual Rights Society (AVRS) of Nigeria, Mr.
Mahmood Ali-Balogun as Vice Chairman.
Others include Bruce Ayonote, CEO of Legend Box Office; filmmaker and
talent manager, Mildred Okwo; Journalist/Film Critic, Shaibu Husseini;
filmmaker/author, Charles Novia; award-winning filmmaker, CJ Obasi; top
actor Ramsey Nouah; versatile director and cinematographer, Adetokunbo
‘DJ Tee’ Odubawo; movie producer, Ngozi Okafor; AFRIFF Founder, Chioma
Ude and director of Green-White-Green, Abba Makama.
According to Anyaene, entries received this year show significant improvements from the previous years.
“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. Filmmakers are gradually taking the Oscar rules into
consideration, and I have no doubt that it is going to be more
competitive, going forward,” she said.
Every year, each country outside the United States is expected to
submit one film as long as it’s not primarily in English. Films in
pidgin, which must be subtitled like any other language film are also
considered under this category.
Formerly called ‘Best Foreign Language Film’, 87 countries vied for
the shortlisted slots last year, and from a final five Oscar
nominations, ‘Roma’, a Mexican film directed by Alfonso Cuarón picked
the honor.
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