Oscars: Stephanie Linus emerges Nigerian selection committee chair

Stephanie Linus, a well-known Nollywood actress, has been chosen to head the Nigerian Official Selection Committee, NOSC, for the prestigious Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category.

Hours after Chineze Anyaene-Abonyi, the organization’s founder, formally resigned from her position as chair, NOSC announced Stephanie’s appointment.

ER reports that Anyaene-Abonyi’s resignation came after she secured the Oscars’ re-approval of the NOSC in preparation for the 96th edition of the Academy Awards to be held in 2024.

This development followed the approval of the formation of a restructured 14-member NOSC team by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, AMPAS, after the previous chairperson’s exit.

The reconstituted members of NOSC include the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr. Chidia Maduekwe; veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde; the President of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Dr. Victor Okhai; former President of DGN, Mr. Andy Amenechi; theater practitioner, Yibo Koko, writer/director, Izu Ojukwu, among others.