News
Major Milestone for Nollywood! Oscars approve Nigerian Committee
Imagine your favourite star winning an Oscar!
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has approved a 12-man committee of Nollywood stakeholders, ahead of the 2015 Oscars (Academy Awards).
Called the Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC), they’ll pave the way for Nigerian entries to be considered for the world’s prestigious prize for films.
Every year, countries with an approved selection committee may submit one film for consideration for the Foreign Language Film Award.
Only 5 movies are selected from all international submissions for Academy members to cast their votes and choose a winning foreign language production.
First Meeting of Committee
The 12 outstanding professionals that are part of the committee include;
Chairperson – Chineze Anyaene – Producer/Director | Ije starring Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Ramsey Nouah – Actor
Charles Novia – Writer/Producer/Director | Alan Poza starring OC Ukeje, Kemi “Lala” Akindoju & Beverly Naya
Chioma Ude, Kene Mkparu, Chineze Anyaene , Ngozi Okafor & Shaibu Husseini
Ngozi Okafor – Line Producer/Producer
Emeka Mba – Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
Chioma Ude – Executive Director of African International Film Festival (AFRIFF)
Akin Salami – Executive Producer/Distributor & Content Developer
Kene Mkparu – MD/CEO, Filmhouse Cinemas Nigeria
Mildred Okwo – Producer/Director
Biola Alabi – Managing Director, M-Net Africa
Olumide Amure – Managing Director of Bloomberg Television Africa Limited
Shaibu Husseini – Culture/Film Journalist/Film Critic
Vchangelo Bullock (Managing Director, Outreach & Strategy initiative), Chineze Anyaene (Chairperson, NOSC), Meredith Shae (Award Cordinator) & Tom Oyer (Awards Cordinator)
According to rules by the Academy, members will consider submissions on 7 criteria which are – story, direction, acting, cinematography, sound, music and universal theme.
Every Nollywood movie selected each year will compete with movie from 85 other countries for the coveted Best Foreign Language Film Award. The Academy will then pick a shortlist of 5 foreign language movies ahead of the ceremony.
This is a great milestone for Nollywood. Go Nigeria!
ejjysam
May 1, 2014 at 3:06 pm
AMAZING!!! CONGRATS NOLLYWOOD!!!
oyeprof
May 1, 2014 at 3:10 pm
if this doesn’t motivate our actors and producers to up their game now that they have a shot at Oscars, i don’t know what will. Great news
Naveah
May 1, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Oh the embarrassment that is about to ensue! Oh the politics! WEEEEEELLLL, let’s hope that this will push people to make better movies. Nollywood don beg beg beg well now when dem don recognize una, you had BETTER BRING YOUR “A” GAME o! This is the BIG LEAGUES. This is not AMAA awards where anything goes even movie from 2007 will be nominated for an award in 2014. Personally, it is my opinion that Nollywood is NOT ready to show ANY film at the Oscars but if the opportunity has been won then please don’t make those people regret their decision and don’t bring even more shame to Nigeria. Come Correct!
nene
May 1, 2014 at 4:12 pm
politics will be involved definitely but i think this will motivate people to aspire to make better movies. how did chineze manage to pull this off? she’s working hard, seriously.
Tunde
May 1, 2014 at 3:16 pm
with the rate nollywood is going and the 99% foolish rubbish they churn out, hell will freeze over before any of our stupid ridiculous movies get nominated let alone, win.
i have hope for kenyans and south africa, but nollywood, hell NO.
They have a long way to go, lets start off with at least getting the spelling of cast names correctly at the end credits, and giving sensible titles to our movies. Lets just start there 🙂
Jtyzmotivator
May 1, 2014 at 3:26 pm
When would Yoruba movie producers, actors, directors, et. al, would ever be recognized for their craft? Those guys do wayyyyyyy better than the “supposed” English movies.. Is Yoruba not part of Nigerian languages/tribe? Then why are they not considered part of Nollywood, if Nollywood is a platform or organisation or group-word {short of what appropriate word or categorization for the Nollywood self!} for Nigerian movies?.. So many questions and thoughts, but let me rest my head here…
Iris
May 1, 2014 at 5:22 pm
Well, this is for the Foreign Language category (had to scratch my head at that one as most of the ones that get attention are the English ones) so maybe now Yoruba movie will shine because I don’t see how the regular Nollywood ones qualify. I hope the Nigerian committee is aware that this doesn’t mean you can jut throw English subtitles onto a movie that’s shot in English. Nigerian movies have to work on the grammar and spelling of their subtitles though. I’ve seen some very scary things and I’m even referring to the ones done in English.
DJ STELCH
May 1, 2014 at 3:55 pm
#Wonderfulation!! Nice One!! Can’t Wait….. Who’ll Be Nigerians 1st Oscar Winner?? Answer: MR IBU
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¤GROWN MAN IN A YOUNG BODY¤
omalichaspeaks.blogspot.com
May 1, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Great news! #proudlynigerian
The Grass To Grace Transition- click my name to read more
nene
May 1, 2014 at 4:08 pm
yay! exciting news. i heard someone in the industry say it was probably because of HOAYS and the person doubted the continuity of this committee. @ jtyzmotivator, nollywood is the nigerian film industry so yoruba, hausa, igbo, efik, etc movies are all a part of nollywood but getting the committee to see your movie will always be a tough process, like in every other country that sends movies to the Oscars, having friends in high places will help. I nominate izu ojukwu’s upcoming movie to be sent.
Myne Whitman
May 1, 2014 at 4:32 pm
Bear in mind, this is foreign language category ONLY. Nigerian cinema movies in English will not qualify. Maybe Kannywood or Yolly. Do Igbos have films in Igbo?
@edDREAMZ
May 1, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Wow, big congrat to nollywood…. I just hope dey start producing dope movie frm nw on….
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>>>BringBackOurGirls<<<
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
nne
May 1, 2014 at 5:29 pm
this is laughable. even the people on the board are a joke. where is tunde kelani? kanayo kanayo? Sam Dede? never in the history of nollywood has there been a single oscar worthy movie. not even a major film festival. you must to crawl before you walk. the industry is not effective and you want to go to oscar.
heraque
May 1, 2014 at 5:37 pm
Yes we do,we just dont get as much shine.
Concerned_Boyfriend
May 1, 2014 at 5:47 pm
Kolo-mentality!… Why do we need Hollywood to feel validated ?. Let’s see how these nollywood execs would politicize and tribalize this process.
michael
May 1, 2014 at 6:21 pm
its for foreign language so all those mainstream nollywood will not qualify except they are in pidgin……this will definitely be dominated by the yoruba movies especially those mainframe type produced ones, the hausa movies are too amateurish, igbos don’t really shoot movies in their language and if they do its very few and far between anyways we shall see its a step in the right direction
T boy
May 1, 2014 at 7:18 pm
@nne, must Tunde kelani be on the committee list? You people always expect the usual people every time, that is why the industry has not grown.
Why has the usual nollywood people not think of this in the past?
The committee consists of people who are serious minded jare. And I wonder who they can bribe in the committee… They seem like big boys and girls in their own right and not hungry people.
This is a step forward , at least young filmmakers can shoot films and submit without bothering about casting stars.
Weldone nolly
Brass
May 3, 2014 at 4:39 am
What you don’t notice/know is that this is mostly a ‘cartel selection’ Won’t be free and fair, OI can gurantee that one person got the connect and nominated their industry ‘friends’ (Kene,Chioma,Mildred,Chineze are probably from same village and I can bet all the tea in China this came from one of them) Doomed to fail already! Naija as usual.
paulmirabilis
May 1, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Good news for Nollywood but I hope those guys know that they are not talking about the regular English Nollywood movies; only movies made in foreign languages. This is Yorubawood’s opportunity to shine. I believe they are up to the task. Dayo Amusa’s ‘Unforgivable’ (Yoruba movie) was one of the best Nigerian movies made last year.
Ojie
May 1, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Interesting. But yet, the Nigerian government refuses to release half of a yellow sun for stupid reasons. Are sure this would work out? However.. One has to ask. How many quality films from Nollywood are made in another language? As the academy stipulates that the films that can compete in this category must have predominant non-English dialogue track and must be submitted by a country. Will Nigeria come together to submit a film for Academy consideration?
Nma
May 2, 2014 at 1:45 am
WTH? Beverly Naya as a member of the committee kwa? To what merit biko? As a seasoned veteran or as an outstanding producer/actress? Which one? This is already sounding like one of those wuruwuru naija awards to me.
observer
May 2, 2014 at 9:43 am
Beverly is not on the list na !!! its would have been wise to read in full & not just jump to conclusions or read with one eye
Endowed
May 10, 2014 at 4:02 am
This is good!!! more to come.
Zedzed
June 10, 2014 at 6:29 pm
The just concluded Nollywood week in Paris over the weekend, with 8 Nigerian movies shown made me proud to be Nigerian and proves that we can produce quality movies with touching storylines. I wonder why nobody is talking about Nollywood week Paris
Zedzed
June 10, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Oops!! I just noticed that this post was in May, my bad