What it Will Take for Nollywood to Win the Oscars 2026
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Christina Ngene
I am a movie enthusiast with a passion for writing and a desire to see the African movie industries grow. I try to use my skills as an artist to cheer for Nollywood by writing for NollyMania. • Syndicate Correspondent
The process of winning the Academy Award must evolve strategically in Nollywood.
As the second-largest film industry in the world by volume, Nollywood already has some of the raw materials needed to win an Oscar. Unique stories with deep cultural narratives not told anywhere else.
There is a massive talent pool — actors, directors, screenwriters with global potential within the industry. More so Nollywood has a global reach with an ever-expanding presence on Netflix, Prime Video, and international festivals. But it has hardly been nominated.
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How to Win the Oscars in Nollywood in 2026
Despite its growth, Nollywood hasn’t cracked the Oscars due to the nature of the award and its systemic barriers.
The language rules of the Academy Award, which apply to its Best International Feature, require predominantly non-English dialogue. Nollywood falters in this area and sometimes misses the point.
For a country that is rich in diversity, most Nigerian films are in English, which automatically disqualifies them.
There is also limited global campaigning. Oscar wins require high-level lobbying, marketing, and exposure. Nollywood doesn’t yet have the financial or strategic infrastructure to compete with industries like South Korea (e.g., Parasite), India, or Mexico.
Aside from that, industry leadership is fragmented. Internal politics have weakened Nigeria’s Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC), sometimes leaving the country with no official entry. There’s little alignment between government, private sector, and global platforms.
While improving, many Nollywood films still fall short in sound design, editing, and screenplay polish — essential Oscar criteria.
There are signs of hope for Nollywood. Films like “Lionheart” (2018) by Genevieve Nnaji brought international attention (though disqualified for being mostly in English).
CJ Obasi’s “Mami Wata” won awards at Sundance and was Nigeria’s 2024 Oscar submission.
The Nigerian diaspora is increasingly contributing to globally recognized content (e.g., Akin Omotoso, Chinonye Chukwu).
Winning an Oscar isn’t just about talent — it’s about playing the game, telling powerful stories, and showing up in the right rooms.
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