After a Toronto International Film Festival premiere in 2018 and a Netflix debut in January 2019, Genevieve Nnaji’s second produced film and directorial debut picture ‘Lionheart’ has been selected by the Nigeria Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC) for the 2020 Academy Awards.
Telling the story of a young woman, Adaeze Obiagu (Genevieve Nnaji), who steps in her ailing father’s shoes to save her family’s company Lionheart, the film, is the first submission from Nigeria after six years of NOSC existence to select an Oscar standard film for a possible nomination in the International Feature Film Category.
Chairman of the selection committee Chineze Anyaene disclosed of Nigeria’s ability in selecting a film for the Oscars this time as an improvement in the film industry. “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 considering the Oscar rules, and I have no doubt that it is going to be more competitive, going forward,” she said.
The Nigeria Oscar Selection Committee is made up of Bruce Ayonote (CEO of Legend Box Office), Mildred Okwo (filmmaker and talent manager), Shaibu Husseini (Journalist/Film Critic), Charles Novia (Fimmaker/Author), CJ Obasi (Award-winning filmmaker), Ramsey Noah ( Award winning Actor), Adetokunbo ‘Dj Tee’ Odubawo (Director and Cinematographer) Ngozi Okafor (Movie Producer), Chioma Ude (AFRIFF Founder)and Abba Makam (Director of Green-White-Green).
Ahead of the Oscar race for a final shortlist in the International Film category, Ghana has also selected a Kwabena Gyansah film ‘Azali’ to be reviewed for the top the five films to-be-selected by the Academy board. If both Ghana and Nigeria make it to the cut, they will join their counterpart South Africa as the films made outside US to have merit an outstanding Oscar nomination from the African continent.
