Cynthia Ezegwu
The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has announced that the country will not submit any film for the International Feature Film (IFF) category at the 2026 Academy Awards.
Chairperson of the committee, Stephanie Linus, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that although six films were received following a call for entries in August, the committee voted by majority on September 26 for a “No Submission.”
Linus explained that while Nigerian films have shown significant growth and awareness of IFF standards, gaps remain in creative and technical quality needed to compete globally.
“While Nigerian films have no doubt shown significant improvement and growing awareness of IFF standards, there is still a deficit in creative and technical intentionality that will improve their competitive potential for global awards,” she said.
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She confirmed that the decision has been formally communicated to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, stressing that the NOSC will take more proactive steps to encourage filmmakers to create with the Oscars in mind.
Linus urged Nigerian filmmakers to study past IFF-nominated films to better understand the expectations of the category and improve future submissions.
The International Feature Film award is presented annually to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States with at least 50 percent non-English dialogue.