Updated with Academy statement: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s decision to disqualify Nigeria’s first International Feature Film submission, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, has been met with criticism since the news first broke. But the Academy said in a statement Tuesday that the film simply didn’t meet eligibility requirements.
The pic, which Netflix acquired ahead of its debut at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival, was one of 93 films officially submitted to the Oscars this year, in the newly named International Feature Film category.
But on Monday, news broke that the Academy said Lionheart did not meet eligibility requirements of a submitted film being predominately in a foreign language. Most of the film is in English, with a small portion of the 95-minute run time in the Igbo language.
“In April 2019, we announced that the name of the Foreign Language Film category changed to International Feature Film.
The pic, which Netflix acquired ahead of its debut at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival, was one of 93 films officially submitted to the Oscars this year, in the newly named International Feature Film category.
But on Monday, news broke that the Academy said Lionheart did not meet eligibility requirements of a submitted film being predominately in a foreign language. Most of the film is in English, with a small portion of the 95-minute run time in the Igbo language.
“In April 2019, we announced that the name of the Foreign Language Film category changed to International Feature Film.
- 11/5/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Following online criticism over the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s decision to disqualify Nigeria’s first International Feature Film submission, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart, co-chair of the International Feature Film executive committee Larry Karaszewski has responded, calling the situation “less of a controversy, and more of a misunderstanding.”
Academy rules for the category stipulate that “the recording of the original dialogue track as well as the completed picture must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English.” Lionheart’s 95-minute running time is understood to contain a little more than 11 minutes which are not in English.
Nevertheless, when word began to spread that the film had been deemed ineligible, names including Ava DuVernay took to Twitter to question the ruling. DuVernay commented, “English is the official language of Nigeria. Are you barring the country from ever competing for an Oscar in its official language?...
Academy rules for the category stipulate that “the recording of the original dialogue track as well as the completed picture must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English.” Lionheart’s 95-minute running time is understood to contain a little more than 11 minutes which are not in English.
Nevertheless, when word began to spread that the film had been deemed ineligible, names including Ava DuVernay took to Twitter to question the ruling. DuVernay commented, “English is the official language of Nigeria. Are you barring the country from ever competing for an Oscar in its official language?...
- 11/5/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The 17th Marrakech International Film Festival (Nov 30 – Dec 08) has set a jury comprising Suspiria star Dakota Johnson, Indian actress Ileana D’Cruz (Barfi!), Lebanese filmmaker and visual artist Joana Hadjithomas (I Want To See), Brit director Lynne Ramsay (We Need To Talk About Kevin), Moroccan director Tala Hadid (House In The Fields), French director Laurent Cantet (The Class), German actor Daniel Brühl (Rush) and Mexican director Michel Franco (April’s Daughter). As previously revealed, director James Gray will serve as jury president.
A total of 80 films will unspool at the festival, with Julian Schnabel’s Van Gogh biopic At Eternity’s Gate among gala screenings and also the festival’s opener. Other galas include Roma, Green Book and Capernaum while special screenings include Wildlife, Her Smell and Birds Of Passage. The official competition, galas and special screenings are listed below.
The festival will also feature tributes to Robert DeNiro, Robin Wright,...
A total of 80 films will unspool at the festival, with Julian Schnabel’s Van Gogh biopic At Eternity’s Gate among gala screenings and also the festival’s opener. Other galas include Roma, Green Book and Capernaum while special screenings include Wildlife, Her Smell and Birds Of Passage. The official competition, galas and special screenings are listed below.
The festival will also feature tributes to Robert DeNiro, Robin Wright,...
- 11/19/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has bought worldwide rights to Genevieve Nnaji’s comedy “Lionheart” on the eve of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Netflix announced the deal Friday. The film will premiere at Tiff on Saturday. “Lionheart” marks the first Netflix original film from Nigeria.
Nnaji stars with Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, and Onyeka Onwenu. The story follows a daughter who’s forced to work with her feckless uncle in order to save her father’s ailing bus company. Nnaji plays Adaeze, a level-headed executive in her father’s bus company, Lionheart Transport. When her father (played by Edochie) falls ill, both she and her rival (Kalu Egbui Ikeagwu) are passed over in favor of the uncle, played by Owoh.
Complications arise when they discover that the family business is in dire financial straits — leading to absurd results as they try to save the company. The film also touches...
Netflix announced the deal Friday. The film will premiere at Tiff on Saturday. “Lionheart” marks the first Netflix original film from Nigeria.
Nnaji stars with Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, and Onyeka Onwenu. The story follows a daughter who’s forced to work with her feckless uncle in order to save her father’s ailing bus company. Nnaji plays Adaeze, a level-headed executive in her father’s bus company, Lionheart Transport. When her father (played by Edochie) falls ill, both she and her rival (Kalu Egbui Ikeagwu) are passed over in favor of the uncle, played by Owoh.
Complications arise when they discover that the family business is in dire financial straits — leading to absurd results as they try to save the company. The film also touches...
- 9/7/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has acquired world rights to Lionheart, prior to its Toronto premiere tomorrow. The film marks Netflix’s first film from Nigeria, and it marks the directorial debut of Genevieve Nnaji who stars with Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie and Onyeka Onwenu.
Running a company can be challenging, especially if you are a female in a male-dominated industry. Looking to prove her worth, Adaeze steps up to the challenge when her father, Chief Ernest Obiagu is forced to take a step back due to health issues. Ironically, he appoints his crude and eccentric brother, Godswill, instead to run the company with his young daughter. Complications arise when they discover that the family business is in dire financial straits and both Adaeze and Godswill try to save the company in their own way to crazy and often hilarious results.
Script was written by Chinny Onwugbenu, Genevieve Nnaji, Ishaya Bako, Emil Garuba, and C.
Running a company can be challenging, especially if you are a female in a male-dominated industry. Looking to prove her worth, Adaeze steps up to the challenge when her father, Chief Ernest Obiagu is forced to take a step back due to health issues. Ironically, he appoints his crude and eccentric brother, Godswill, instead to run the company with his young daughter. Complications arise when they discover that the family business is in dire financial straits and both Adaeze and Godswill try to save the company in their own way to crazy and often hilarious results.
Script was written by Chinny Onwugbenu, Genevieve Nnaji, Ishaya Bako, Emil Garuba, and C.
- 9/7/2018
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has acquired its first movie from Nigeria.
The streaming giant Friday said it has picked up the world rights to Lionheart, the directorial debut of Genevieve Nnaji, set to have a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
The film, which stars Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie and Onyeka Onwenu, follows a young woman who has to prove her worth as she steps up to run her family's company when her father is sidelined by health issues.
Lionheart, which has its first screening in Toronto on Saturday, is based on a screenplay by Chinny Onwugbenu, Nnaji, Ishaya Bako,...
The streaming giant Friday said it has picked up the world rights to Lionheart, the directorial debut of Genevieve Nnaji, set to have a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
The film, which stars Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie and Onyeka Onwenu, follows a young woman who has to prove her worth as she steps up to run her family's company when her father is sidelined by health issues.
Lionheart, which has its first screening in Toronto on Saturday, is based on a screenplay by Chinny Onwugbenu, Nnaji, Ishaya Bako,...
Netflix has acquired its first movie from Nigeria.
The streaming giant Friday said it has picked up the world rights to Lionheart, the directorial debut of Genevieve Nnaji, set to have a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
The film, which stars Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie and Onyeka Onwenu, follows a young woman who has to prove her worth as she steps up to run her family's company when her father is sidelined by health issues.
Lionheart, which has its first screening in Toronto on Saturday, is based on a screenplay by Chinny Onwugbenu, Nnaji, Ishaya Bako,...
The streaming giant Friday said it has picked up the world rights to Lionheart, the directorial debut of Genevieve Nnaji, set to have a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
The film, which stars Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie and Onyeka Onwenu, follows a young woman who has to prove her worth as she steps up to run her family's company when her father is sidelined by health issues.
Lionheart, which has its first screening in Toronto on Saturday, is based on a screenplay by Chinny Onwugbenu, Nnaji, Ishaya Bako,...
Genevieve Nnaji makes directorial debut.
Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to Tiff selection Lionheart, its first Netflix Original film from Nigeria, which premiered in Discovery on Friday.
Nollywood star Genevieve Nnaji makes her directorial debut on the story about a woman in a male-dominated industry who steps up to run her father’s company when he falls sick and must work alongside her incompetent uncle.
Nnaji stars with Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, and Onyeka Onwenu. Chinny Onwugbenu wrote the screenplay with Nnaji, Ishaya Bako, Emil Garuba, and C.J. Obasi.
T.E.N. – The Entertainment Network produced Lionheart, which received its world premiere on Friday,...
Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to Tiff selection Lionheart, its first Netflix Original film from Nigeria, which premiered in Discovery on Friday.
Nollywood star Genevieve Nnaji makes her directorial debut on the story about a woman in a male-dominated industry who steps up to run her father’s company when he falls sick and must work alongside her incompetent uncle.
Nnaji stars with Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, and Onyeka Onwenu. Chinny Onwugbenu wrote the screenplay with Nnaji, Ishaya Bako, Emil Garuba, and C.J. Obasi.
T.E.N. – The Entertainment Network produced Lionheart, which received its world premiere on Friday,...
- 9/7/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Title: Half of a Yellow Sun Director: Biyi Bandele Starring: Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle, John Boyega, Onyeka Onwenu A well-intentioned historical drama that unfolds in the 1960s against the backdrop of the Nigerian Civil War, ”Half of a Yellow Sun” features a couple strong lead performances and the sort of stark socioeconomic class conflict and high stakes that often lends itself to engaging adaptation, but the film gets caught up in the undertow of mawkish melodrama early on, never to fully recover. The story centers around a pair of twin sisters from a well-to-do family, Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose), who return to their homeland [ Read More ]
The post Half of a Yellow Sun Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Half of a Yellow Sun Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 6/2/2014
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
While British-Nigerian actor Chiwetel Ejiofor’s career faces an imminent elevation towards mega stardom with his phenomenal – potentially Academy Award winning – performance in 12 Years a Slave, he can be seen in Biyi Bandele’s directorial debut Half of a Yellow Sun, bringing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s popular novel to the bring screen.
Set during Nigeria’s independence in the 1960s, we follow twin sisters Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose), who squander an important business contract for their father, in turn for an individualistic livelihood; the chance to find their own paths and fulfil their own destinies. Before they know it they both fall in love, the former with activist Odenigbo (Ejiofor), and the latter with the British writer Richard (Joseph Mawle). While illicit affairs and illegitimate children blight this romantic tale, a devastating civil war breaks out – as suddenly our protagonists find their lives in danger, as...
Set during Nigeria’s independence in the 1960s, we follow twin sisters Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose), who squander an important business contract for their father, in turn for an individualistic livelihood; the chance to find their own paths and fulfil their own destinies. Before they know it they both fall in love, the former with activist Odenigbo (Ejiofor), and the latter with the British writer Richard (Joseph Mawle). While illicit affairs and illegitimate children blight this romantic tale, a devastating civil war breaks out – as suddenly our protagonists find their lives in danger, as...
- 10/20/2013
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The 38th Toronto International Film Festival has released an incredible guest list of celebrated talent from around the globe. Filmmakers expected to present their world premieres in Toronto include: Catherine Breillat, Nicole Garcia, Pawel Pawlikowski, Bertrand Tavernier, Steve McQueen, Godfrey Reggio, Denis Villeneuve, Bill Condon, Jean-Marc Vallée, John Wells, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Ayoade, Atom Egoyan, Matthew Weiner, John Carney, Jason Reitman, Jason Bateman, Yorgos Servetas, Liza Johnson, Megan Griffiths, Fernando Eimbcke, Alexey Uchitel, Johnny Ma, Biyi Bandele, Rashid Masharawi, Paul Haggis, Ron Howard, Eli Roth, Álex de la Iglesia, Bruce McDonald, Jennifer Baichwal, John Ridley, and Justin Chadwick.
The Festival also welcomes thousands of producers and other industry professionals bringing films to us.
The following filmmakers and artists are expected to attend the Toronto International Film Festival:
Ahmad Abdalla, Hany Abu-Assad, Yuval Adler, Akosua Adoma Owusu, Alexandre Aja, Bruce Alcock, Gianni Amelio, Thanos Anastopoulos, Madeline Anderson, Nimród Antal, Louise Archambault,...
The Festival also welcomes thousands of producers and other industry professionals bringing films to us.
The following filmmakers and artists are expected to attend the Toronto International Film Festival:
Ahmad Abdalla, Hany Abu-Assad, Yuval Adler, Akosua Adoma Owusu, Alexandre Aja, Bruce Alcock, Gianni Amelio, Thanos Anastopoulos, Madeline Anderson, Nimród Antal, Louise Archambault,...
- 8/21/2013
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Nigerian drama Half Of A Yellow Sun starring Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor will open the 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), festival top brass announced on Monday [29].
Half Of A Yellow Sun will receive its world premiere at Toronto and is Nigeria’s most expensive film to date with a budget of $8m (N1.27bn).
Nigerian writer and playwright Biyi Bandele directed the British-Nigerian co-production and Andrea Calderwood and Gail Ega produced.
The adaptation of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel of the same name is set in 1960s war-torn Nigeria during the struggle for independence.
Anika Noni Rose, John Boyega, Joseph Mawle, Genvieve Nnaji and Onyeka Onwenu round out the key cast.
“We are proud that Half Of A Yellow Sun will open the festival,” said ttff founder and festival director Bruce Paddington. “This continues our mandate to not only show films from the Caribbean and the diaspora but also to celebrate films made in...
Half Of A Yellow Sun will receive its world premiere at Toronto and is Nigeria’s most expensive film to date with a budget of $8m (N1.27bn).
Nigerian writer and playwright Biyi Bandele directed the British-Nigerian co-production and Andrea Calderwood and Gail Ega produced.
The adaptation of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel of the same name is set in 1960s war-torn Nigeria during the struggle for independence.
Anika Noni Rose, John Boyega, Joseph Mawle, Genvieve Nnaji and Onyeka Onwenu round out the key cast.
“We are proud that Half Of A Yellow Sun will open the festival,” said ttff founder and festival director Bruce Paddington. “This continues our mandate to not only show films from the Caribbean and the diaspora but also to celebrate films made in...
- 7/29/2013
- ScreenDaily
Joseph Mawle of the upcoming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Game Of Thrones has joined the cast of Half the Yellow Sun, including Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anika Noni Rose and John Boyega. Variety reports that filming's currently taking place in Calabar, Nigeria and is based on the novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The story follows Biafra's struggle for an independent Nigerian republic, and is produced by Andrea Calderwod and Gail Egan. Newton and Rose play twins, Ejiofor is a professor and Mawle plays an English writer. Pic marks the feature directorial debut of Nigerian theatre helmer, playwright and novelist Biyi Bandele, who also scripts. Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji and Zack Orji of Nigeria also form part of the cast for Half the Yellow Son, exec produced by Muhtar Bakare and Yewande Sadiku...
- 5/14/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Joseph Mawle of the upcoming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Game Of Thrones has joined the cast of Half the Yellow Sun, including Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anika Noni Rose and John Boyega. Variety reports that filming's currently taking place in Calabar, Nigeria and is based on the novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The story follows Biafra's struggle for an independent Nigerian republic, and is produced by Andrea Calderwod and Gail Egan. Newton and Rose play twins, Ejiofor is a professor and Mawle plays an English writer. Pic marks the feature directorial debut of Nigerian theatre helmer, playwright and novelist Biyi Bandele, who also scripts. Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji and Zack Orji of Nigeria also form part of the cast for Half the Yellow Son, exec produced by Muhtar Bakare and Yewande Sadiku...
- 5/14/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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