Nigeria's first-ever Oscar submission was disqualified for being too English
In short: When Genevieve Nnaji directed the 2018 drama Lionheart, she made history as the first Nigerian filmmaker to submit a movie for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Yet, the Academy rejected the entry, citing a technicality regarding the film's primary language that sparked a global conversation about cultural representation.
Lionheart follows Adaeze Obiagu, a logistics director who finds herself sidelined when her father, Chief Ernest Obiagu, steps down from his company due to health concerns. Instead of passing the leadership role to his daughter, he appoints his brother, Godswill. The narrative centers on the pair's uneasy alliance as they attempt to rescue the family business from mounting debt and a hostile acquisition attempt by a rival businessman, Igwe Pascal.
The film marked a significant milestone for the Nigerian industry, known as Nollywood. Produced by Chinny Onwugbenu, it became the first original feature from Nigeria acquired by Netflix, which secured global distribution rights in September 2018. The project served as the directorial debut for Nnaji, who also starred in the lead role, and introduced audiences to new acting talent, including musician Chibuzor Azubuike, also known as Phyno.
Despite its critical success—holding a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes based on early reviews—the film faced a major hurdle during the 2019 awards season. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences disqualified the submission because the majority of the dialogue was in English. With only about ten minutes of the film spoken in Igbo, it failed to meet the specific linguistic requirements for the category. While some critics praised the film for its heartfelt storytelling and feminist undertones, others argued the plot lacked corporate realism, suggesting the production team did not sufficiently research business operations before filming.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Lionheart (2018 film)
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