By Uche Mbah
Nigeria’s entry next year’s to the Oscar awards has been selected, and it is none other than the film Lionheart, a flick co-produced and fully directed by the internationally acclaimed thespian and megastar, Genevieve Nnaji.
Other producers were Chinny Onwugbenu and Chichi Nwoko.
The film was selected by the Nigerian Oscar selection committee, which recommended it for submission towards the 2020 Oscars.
A member of the Committee, Charles Novia, a renowned film maker of international repute, announced this on his Facebook page. But the group officially announced the entry Wednesday following the mandatory vetting and voting of entries. Entries came from Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.
Beside Novia, one other member of the team is Chineze Anyaene, Producer and Director of Ije, a film that Genevieve and Omotola Jelade Ekeinde starred in, and whose title was provided by Nnaji. Ije was arguably an unprecedented Box office grosser. Anyaene, who chaired the committee, was deputized by the Chairman of the Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria, Mahmood Ali Balogun. Others include Mildred Okwo, Film critic; Celebrity actor Ramsy Noah; Filmaker Mildred Okwo; and Adetokunbo Odubawo, a renowned Cinematographer. Others are Ngozi Okafor, Movie producer; Chioma ude, AFRIFF Founder; and Director of Green-White, Green, Abba Makama.
Lionheart was the first Nigerian film to be acquired by Netflix, on september 7, 2018. It premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. It stars Genevieve Nnaji, Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, Onyeka Onwenu, Kanayo O.Kanayo, Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya), Kalu Ikeagwu, Sanni Muazu, Yakubu Mohammed, Ngozi Ezeonu, Peter Okoye (P-Square), and Chibuzor Azubuike (Phyno).
Lionheart was Nnaji’s Directoral debut.
Lionheart was the story of a dynamic young girl, Adaeze (Genevieve), whose father (Pete Edochie) fell ill and the burden of the business empire fell on her. However, she had the overbearing influence of her Uncle (Nkem Owoh) to contend with.
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