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According to the Academy, nominees in the Best International Feature Film Category must have a predominantly non-English dialogue track, and ‘Lionheart,’ despite being an unmistakably Nigerian film, fails to tick this box.

The announcement has attracted concerns from movie producers, with major voices like American filmmaker,Ava DuVernay speaking up against the disqualification on social media.

Responding to this recent development, the NOSC Chairperson Chineze Anyaenesaid:

The budding Nigerian film industry is often faced with producing films with wide reach which often makes the recording dialogue predominantly English with non-English infusions in some cases.

Going forward, the committee intends to submit films which are predominantly foreign language – non-English recording dialogue. We are therefore urging filmmakers to shoot with intention of non-English recording dialogue as a key qualifying parameter to represent the country in the most prestigious award.

The committee is working tirelessly in organizing workshops, seminars and using other available media to create robust awareness on the guidelines and requirements for an International Feature Film Entry.

Lionheart passed on other technical requirements from story, to sound and picture except for language as adjudged by the Academy screening matrix, which was a challenge for the committee at a time. This is an eye opener and step forward into growing a better industry.”

The Best International Feature Film category is stated to carry certain requirements, which must be fulfilled before a film can be submitted.

Some of them are:

1. The film must have been first released in the country submitting it, after which it must have been exhibited for a minimum of 7 consecutive days in a movie theatre.

2. The movie must be predominantly non-English which means that movies with predominant English dialogue will not qualify for the award.

3. The film must not be transmitted electronically or otherwise, before its official release in the theatre.

 

 

 

Credit: Bella Naija

Nigeria’s 2020 Oscar entry ‘LionHeart’ was disqualified on Monday November 4, for having too much English dialogue.

The movie which is Nigeria’s first-ever submission to the Academy Awards, was submitted for the international feature film Oscar category. The Academy’s description of an international feature film “is a feature-length motion picture (defined as over 40 minutes) produced outside the United States of America with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.”

LionHeart which is not excluded from entering other Oscar categories including consideration for best picture, has just under 12 minutes of dialogue that is in the Igbo language native to Southeastern Nigeria, while the remaining 94-minutes is in English. With the disqualification, the number of films in contention for the award has dropped from 93 to 92.

However reacting to the disqualification on Twitter, Genevieve Nnaji wrote;

 

 “This movie represents the way we speak as Nigerians. This includes English which acts as a bridge between the 500+ languages spoken in our country; thereby making us #OneNigeria.” She added, “It’s no different to how French connects communities in former French colonies. We did not choose who colonized us. As ever, this film and many like it, is proudly Nigerian.”

 

American filmmaker who directed the Netflix drama miniseries When They See Us, Ava DuVernay also reacted to the disqualification. She tweeted;

 

 “To @TheAcademy, You disqualified Nigeria’s first-ever submission for Best International Feature because its in English. But English is the official language of Nigeria. Are you barring this country from ever competing for an Oscar in its official language?”

 

LionHeart movie disqualified from Oscar consideration, Genevieve Nnaji and Ava DuVernay react

 

Credit:LIB

Hollywood actress, Kerry Washington has shown her impressive Igbo writing skills as she congratulated Genevieve Nnaji over her Oscar selection.

Taking to twitter, Washington wrote:

This is glorious!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also…Anyi nwere ike i ga rie nri ehihie n’oge n’adighi anya?” (We can have lunch soon)

kerry washington

@kerrywashington

This is glorious!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also… 😊 Anyi nwere ike i ga rie nri ehihie n’oge n’adighi anya? https://twitter.com/genevievennaji1/status/1179688581708894208 

Genevieve Nnaji MFR

@GenevieveNnaji1

The Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee has chosen #LionHeartthemovie to represent Nigeria for the 2020 Academy Award for Best International Film! We are grateful for this recognition and proud to carry the torch. Thank you all for the love and support thus far. ❤️🇳🇬

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Replying to her tweet, Genevieve wrote:

Nwunye anyi daalu. Ka eme ya ngwa ngwa maka anyị nwere okwu. Love you sis” (We should have the lunch soonest because we need to have a discussion).

Genevieve Nnaji MFR

@GenevieveNnaji1

Nwunye anyi daalu🙌🏾🔥😍. Ka eme ya ngwa ngwa maka anyị nwere okwu. Love you sis. ❤️ https://twitter.com/kerrywashington/status/1179832930459193344 

kerry washington

@kerrywashington

This is glorious!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also… 😊 Anyi nwere ike i ga rie nri ehihie n’oge n’adighi anya? https://twitter.com/genevievennaji1/status/1179688581708894208 

1,418 people are talking about this

Kerry Washington  is married to Nnamdi Asomugha, a Nigerian-American actor and NFL Player.

 

Credit: fabwoman.ng

Veteran Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji has become Nollywood’s first billionaire as Netflix buys Lionheart for N1,385,100,000($3.8 million).

The Nigerian actress, film producer and director took to Instagram to appreciate the support for Lion Heart :

Lion Heart movie is Genevieve Nnaji’s directorial debut. Stars like Phyno, Nkem Owoh, Peter Okoye(Psquare), Pete Edochie and Onyeka Onwenu featured in the acclaimed movie.

 

Credit: stargist.com