Ahead of the 2015 Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences (AMPAS) has approved a 12-man committee of Nollywood stakeholders, the
Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC), to consider Nigerian entries for
the world's most prestigious awards for films.
Each year, countries with an
approved selection committee may submit one film for consideration for the
Foreign Language Film Award Oscar; only five films are chosen from all
international submissions for Academy members to cast their votes and choose a
winning foreign language film.
"This is a great opportunity for Nigeria to have a voice in the
international film arena," said Chineze Anyaene, filmmaker and committee
chairperson.
The NOSC members comprise of outstanding professionals who have over
time proved their mettle as some of the finest in the movie industry. They
include Chineze Anyaene, Ngozi Okafor, Olumide Amure, Ramsey Nouah, Kene
Mkparu, Emeka Mba, Chioma Ude, Akin Salami, Mildred Okwo, Biola Alabi, Charles
Novia and Shaibu Husseini.
According to Academy rules, the members will consider submissions on
seven criteria, which are: story, direction, acting, cinematography, sound,
music and universal theme.
Shaibu Husseini, another member of the board agrees. "The Nollywood
film industry needs to play globally so people will begin to look towards
us."
Every Nollywood movie selected each year will compete with movies from
eighty-five (85) other countries for the coveted Best Foreign Language Film Award.
Academy members will then pick a shortlist of five foreign language pictures
ahead of the awards ceremony.
The approval of NOSC represents a milestone for the nation's movie
industry which has been recognised as one of the top largest movie industries
globally. For years, stakeholders have been trying to further improve its
standards and this represents a move in the right direction. Sooner or later,
Nollywood movies will win - maybe consecutively even - the Oscar statuette for
Best Foreign Language Picture.
About The Committee Members
Chineze Anyaene - Chairperson
Chineze Anyaene was born and raised in Abuja, Nigeria. She graduated
from Regina Pacis College, Abuja and later attended the university of Abuja,
Nigeria. In 2005, Chineze moved to Los Angeles, California for a one-year
filmmaking programme at the New York Film Academy. While at NYFA, she was
recognised for creating an outstanding epic folktale, noted as the best
"foreign film" of her graduating class.
A first time feature director, her directorial debut IJE: THE JOURNEY
has received several awards both locally and internationally including the
highest grossing Nigerian film by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and has
still remained unbeaten till date. In March 2012, Chineze was part of the panel
at a conference in Harvard Business School discussing the entertainment
industries in sub-Saharan Africa. She sits as the chairperson of the Nigerian
Oscar Committee.
Charles Novia
Charles Novia is generally acknowledged as an avant-garde Nollywood
filmmaker. Over the years, he has been involved with Nollywood in various
capacities as a Scriptwriter, Producer and Director as well as a foremost
creative entrepreneur. He's the first major Nollywood filmmaker to write a book
on the workings of the film industry in Nigeria and the book; Nollywood till
November: memoirs of a Nollywood Insider since its publication in 2012, has
been well received by critics and scholars of the film sector in Nigeria.
Emeka Mba
Emeka Nkem Mba, recently appointed the Director General of the National
Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is considered by many of his peers as a leading
visionary in the converged fields of media, entertainment and technology, with
over 23 years cross functional experiences in the converged fields of media
& broadcasting, communications technology, and regulatory policy
management. Emeka had served for seven years between 2005 and July 2012 as
Director General of the National Film and Video Censors Board, whilst at the
NFVCB he undertook groundbreaking work in restructuring the Nigerian film
industry.
He has extensive experience in the media and communications fields, and
is currently studying law from the External Programme of the University of
London.
Chioma Ude
The enigmatic founder and Executive Director of African International
Film Festival (AFRIFF) is an ardent film lover. An avid film watcher and
commentator, her passion for the industry grew more intense after her
involvement in the production of the 2007 Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board
(NFVCB) UK Roadshow. The ensuing relationship culminated in Chioma producing
the 2008 Africa Movie Academy Awards and the institution of a brainchild of
hers called the AMAA Charity Benefit. This novel initiative was designed to be
an annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform for industry
practitioners and stakeholders to give back to society.
In 2009, Chioma went on to become the local producer of the ION
International Film Festival (IONIFF), held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in Nigeria.
She enjoys fund-raising for filmmakers and has produced some premieres for some
of the best films in Nigeria.
Ramsey Noah
Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah is an actor and Stunt Director, Nouah's acting
career kicked off when he starred in the Nigerian TV soap opera Fortunes [1993].
Nouah has since then appeared in numerous films starring as the lead role. In
2010, Nouah won the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for Best Actor in a
Leading Role for his performance in the Best Picture award winning film The
Figurine. Ramsey is considered to be one of the most sought-after actors in
Nigeria. To his credit are one hundred and forty-five (145)-actor credit and
more.
Mildred Okwo
Mildred Okwo is a Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Creative Arts Department. In 1993, she bagged a Juris Doctor degree
from Whittier College School of Law in California and practiced Civil Rights,
Employment and Entertainment Law in Los Angeles, California for several years
before returning to Nigeria in 2007.
In 2004, Mildred presented family friend and film producer Ego Boyo with
the first ten pages of her screenplay 30 Days. The idea for 30 Days was
inspired by conditions Mildred observed in Nigeria, and by December 27, 2003 an
article written by popular Nigerian columnist Simon Kolawale motivated Mildred
to insist on writing and producing movies that gently prick the conscience of
its audience. Further, Mildred wanted to offer a better quality production to
Nollywood viewers. 30 Days became her directorial and producing debut, and it
received several accolades.
Her second film titled The Meeting is the result of that hiatus. The
meeting, released in October 2012 has received and continues to receive several
accolades which most recently includes Best Nigerian Feature & President
Goodluck Jonathan's award for most authentic Nigerian Feature, African
International film Festival (AFRIFF) 2013.
Shaibu Husseini
A widely traveled Culture/film journalist and critic, Shaibu writes for
Nigeria's flagship newspaper-The Guardian. Reputed to be one of the most
consistent documentarians of the Nigerian movie industry dubbed Nollywood,
Shaibu, an alumnus of the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) of
the United States Department of State is an astute commentator on arts and film
development in Nigeria and the continent of Africa. Shaibu has written
extensively on the state of the performance arts and runs columns on film/video
industry in several newspapers and journals.
Source: Solomon Nda-Isaiah, AllAfrica
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