The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has announced that Nigeria will not be submitting any film for consideration in the 2026 Academy Awards’ International Feature Film (IFF) category. The decision came following the committee’s deliberations after receiving six film submissions earlier this year.
NOSC Chairperson Stephanie Linus explained that despite noticeable improvements in Nigerian films and greater awareness of the category’s standards, the entries lacked the required creative and technical intentionality to be competitive on the global Oscars stage. The committee voted by majority to opt for “No Submission,” effectively ending the selection process for this year.
Linus emphasized that NOSC intends to take proactive steps to encourage Nigerian filmmakers to create works with Oscar criteria in mind. She urged the industry to study previous nominated films to better understand the category’s expectations and enhance Nigeria’s future chances.
The International Feature Film award recognizes feature-length films made outside the United States that contain at least 50% non-English dialogue. This marks a continued challenge for Nigeria in securing a spot on the Oscar nomination list despite the growing prominence of Nollywood internationally.
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026, in Los Angeles, California.