The Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC) has selected Genevieve Nnaji’s ‘Lionheart’ as Nigeria’s submission to the International Feature Film category of the 2020 Oscars.
According to Channels News, the committee announced the selection on Wednesday, following a statutory vetting and subsequent voting of entries received from Nigerian filmmakers at home and abroad.
’Lionheart’ was produced by Chinny Onwugbenu, Chichi Nwoko, Genevieve Nnaji and directed by Genevieve Nnaji, premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and got featured as the first Netflix original film produced in Nigeria.
The movie stars Pete Edochie, Genevieve N, 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).
‘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.
The 12-man Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC), is chaired by Chineze Anyaene with Mahmood Ali-Balogun as vice chairman.