Nigeria will not have a film submission for the International Feature Film (IFF) category at the upcoming 2026 Academy Awards. The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) confirmed the decision in a statement on Monday, after concluding its selection process.
NOSC Chairperson, Stephanie Linus, announced that the committee had put out a call for entries in August to consider potential films for the prestigious award. A total of six Nigerian films were received and reviewed by the committee members.
However, following a meeting held over the weekend, the NOSC reached a decision by a majority vote to make “No Submission.” This vote effectively ended the consideration process for the 2026 awards season.
Explaining the committee’s reasoning, Linus stated, “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.”
The committee has since officially communicated its decision to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, formally notifying the awards body that Nigeria will not be participating in the International Feature Film category this year.
