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Veteran actress, filmmaker and chair of the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC), Stephanie Linus, has challenged Nigeria's film industry to shift its focus from simply qualifying for the Academy Awards to producing movies capable of competing with the world's finest productions.
She made the remarks during the inaugural NOSC Industry Forum 2026, held at Filmhouse Cinemas in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The gathering brought together filmmakers, producers, writers, directors, distributors, investors, government representatives, film students and other industry stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving Nigeria's standing in international cinema.
Addressing participants, Stephanie noted that discussions surrounding the Oscars have for too long centred on the submission process rather than the quality of the films themselves.
She argued that true international recognition comes from creating exceptional stories supported by world-class production standards rather than simply meeting eligibility requirements.
According to her, Nigerian filmmakers possess remarkable creativity and compelling stories, but greater attention must be paid to long-term planning, script development, technical execution and collaboration if the industry hopes to earn consistent recognition on the global stage.
She explained that while understanding the Academy Awards' rules is important, compliance alone does not guarantee success.
Instead, filmmakers must prioritise outstanding storytelling, excellent cinematography, sound design, editing and production values that can compete with films from leading industries around the world.
The forum featured detailed sessions examining what makes international feature films successful. Industry experts reviewed award-winning productions, analysing elements such as narrative structure, directing, cultural authenticity, festival strategies and global audience appeal.
Participants explored how Nigerian films could adopt higher creative standards while maintaining their unique cultural identity.
A panel discussion involving experienced filmmakers also reflected on Nigeria's previous Oscar campaigns, highlighting both achievements and recurring obstacles.
Among the issues identified were weak script development, inconsistent post-production quality, limited access to international film festivals, inadequate publicity campaigns and insufficient partnerships with global distributors.
Speakers agreed that many promising Nigerian films fail to reach their full potential because they lack adequate funding and structured development from the earliest stages of production.
They stressed that investment should extend beyond filming to include professional editing, sound mixing, subtitling, marketing and international awards campaigns.
The forum also examined the growing importance of international co-productions. Experts clarified that receiving foreign funding or working with international crew members does not automatically determine a film's nationality for Oscar consideration.
Instead, factors such as creative leadership, production ownership and overall control remain key considerations under Academy rules.
Members of the Nigerian Official Selection Committee further explained how films are evaluated before being selected to represent the country.
They emphasised that meeting the Academy's eligibility requirements is only one aspect of the assessment, as the committee also considers a film's artistic quality and likelihood of earning international recognition.
The event followed NOSC's recent announcement that Nigeria would not submit a film for the 2026 Academy Awards' International Feature Film category after concluding that none of the entries met the standard required for global competitiveness.
Stephanie's message reinforced the need for a cultural shift within Nollywood. Rather than viewing Oscar submissions as the ultimate goal, she encouraged filmmakers to pursue excellence at every stage of production.
By investing in stronger storytelling, technical innovation, strategic partnerships and sustainable industry development, she believes Nigerian cinema can secure a more prominent place among the world's most celebrated film industries.
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