JUST IN: Nigeria records No Film Submission For Third Time In Five Years As Oscars 2026 Trends
The Nigeria Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has announced that no film will be submitted to represent the country in the ‘International Feature Film’ (Oscars) category of the 2026 Academy Awards .
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The committee, which called for entries in August and received six submissions, reached its decision after a September 26 deliberation.
In a statement released on Monday, the NOSC said a majority of members voted for “no submission,” ending the selection process.
Chairperson Stephanie Linus, who conveyed the decision to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), praised the growth of Nigerian cinema but said the films submitted lacked the “creative and technical depth” 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.
“This is why the NOSC will be taking more proactive steps to encourage filmmakers to create with the Oscars in mind.”
The development comes after Hausa epic Mai Martaba was picked as Nigeria’s entry for the 2025 Oscars. Mami Wata was also submitted for the 96th edition.
Nigeria has faced similar setbacks in the past. In 2021, The Milkmaid was accepted for the 93rd Oscars but did not make the first shortlist. For the 2022 and 2023 editions, the committee opted against submitting any film, citing eligibility issues.
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The country has only managed three submissions in total, with none securing a nomination. In 2019, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart was disqualified for having most of its dialogue in English, sparking debate on language rules.
Industry watchers say Nigeria’s Oscar bid struggles are not just about quality but also visibility, as the films often lack international promotion and festival exposure needed for global recognition.
The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
