Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Ava DuVernay Slams Academy After Nigeria's First Submitted Film Is Disqualified From Oscars For Having Too Much English

Ava DuVernay Slams Academy After Nigeria's First Submitted Film Is Disqualified From Oscars For Having Too Much English
JC Olivera/Getty Images

The 2020 Oscars race is already off to a controversial start thanks to a decision by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to disqualify the Nigerian film Lionheart for using too much English.


The Academy made the decision that the film, which made history as Nigeria's first-ever entry into the Best International Feature Film category (previously called Best Foreign Language Film), violates the rule that films must use "a predominantly non-English dialogue track."

Lionheart, in which a woman steps in to help run her ailing father's business in a male-dominated world, is indeed largely in English, along with the Nigerian language of Igbo.

But critics of the Academy's decision say that the move is unfair given that English is the official language of Nigeria.

When They See Us and A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay took to Twitter to blast the Academy, saying:

"To @TheAcademy, You disqualified Nigeria's first-ever submission for Best International Feature because its in English. But English is the official language of Nigeria. Are you barring this country from ever competing for an Oscar in its official language?"

The disqualification is particularly notable given that the film's director and star, Genevieve Nnaji, was one of a record 29 female directors in the category of 93 films.

Nnaji also spoke out after the Academy's decision, defending and shedding light onto the way English is used in the film.


Many others also spoke up to make their displeasure with the Academy known.







While some argued that rules are rules, unfair as they may seem.




Lionheart isn't the only film that was disqualified from the category, albeit for different reasons.

Before the list of qualifying films was announced, Afghanistan's film Hava, Maryam, Ayesha had been deemed ineligible after concerns were raised about the legitimacy of the Afghan committee that submitted it to the Academy.

With Lionheart out of the running, top contenders in the Best International Feature Film category are expected to include Spain's Pain and Glory, South Korea's Parasite, and France's Les Miserables.

And while it may not come away with any coveted Oscars, you can still check out Lionheart, which is currently streaming on Netflix.

More from Entertainment/tv-and-movies

Sunny Hostin's Near-Death Allergic Reaction

In a cooking segment on The View, Sunny Hostin “almost died” after accidentally sampling a recipe from Debbie Matenopoulos’ new Greek cookbook, Greek.ish.

Matenopoulos was one of the original co-hosts on The View when it premiered in 1997, alongside Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, and Joy Behar. Formerly an MTV production assistant, Matenopoulos was asked to be the youngest co-host on Walters’ new talk show until 1999, when the show decided not to renew her contract.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amy Jo Johnson; Jason David Frank
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images

Amy Jo Johnson Shares Poignant Throwback Photo With Late 'Power Rangers' Costar Jason David Frank

*The following article contains discussion of suicide/self-harm.

Millennials and Gen-Xers who grew up with the original Power Rangers and remain nostalgic for the franchise were heartbroken by the sudden passing of Jason David Frank, who started as the green Power Ranger in the original series and went on to be a mainstay throughout multiple spinoff series. The actor took his own life in 2022 at the age of 49.

Keep ReadingShow less
George Clooney as Batman
John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images; Warner Bros. Discovery

George Clooney's Son's Hilarious Shade

It looks like George Clooney’s own son didn’t even recognize him… as the Batman.

While attending the 78th Annual Tony Awards, the 64-year-old actor told Entertainment Tonight that his son, Alexander, whom he shares with his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, has recently become obsessed with the Dark Knight character.

Keep ReadingShow less
JD Vance
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Vance Makes Epically Ironic Dig At Past Presidents While Defending Trump For Bombing Iran

Vice President JD Vance appeared to have no sense of irony when he told NBC that President Donald Trump's attack on Iran is different from the U.S.'s past conflicts in the Middle East because, he said, Trump is unlike prior "dumb presidents."

Vance spoke after Trump authorized a series of intense U.S. air and submarine strikes targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities, amid ongoing uncertainty about the status of Tehran’s nuclear program, saying the decision shows Trump "actually knows how to accomplish America's national security objectives."

Keep ReadingShow less
Rebel Wilson
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Rebel Wilson Reveals She Was Nearly Left 'Permanently Disfigured' By Accident On Film Set

After first becoming friends more than 14 years ago on the set of the first Pitch Perfect movie, Anna Camp and Rebel Wilson are back together in Bride Hard, now with Camp as the bride and Wilson as her best friend, and also a secret agent.

There is some chance of injury in almost any job, but with stunts in an action film, there are bound to be incidents, even if it's just a few stubbed toes.

Keep ReadingShow less