Nigeria to Miss Out on 2026 Oscars as NOSC Votes ‘No Submission’

• Nigeria will not submit any film for the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars.

• The Nigerian Official Selection Committee said it voted “No Submission” after reviewing six entries, citing gaps in creative and technical standards.

The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has announced that Nigeria will not be submitting any film for the International Feature Film (IFF) category at the 2026 Academy Awards.

In a statement on Monday, NOSC Chairperson, Stephanie Linus, said the committee opened a call for entries in August and received six films for consideration.

However, following a meeting on September 26, the committee voted by majority to make “No Submission,” effectively ending the selection process.

“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,” Linus explained.

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She added that the decision had been formally communicated to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Expressing regret that no Nigerian film was deemed suitable for this year, Linus said, “This is why the NOSC will be taking more proactive steps to encourage filmmakers to create with the Oscars in mind.”

She further urged Nigerian filmmakers to study previously nominated works in the category in order to better understand its requirements and strengthen future submissions.

The IFF Award is presented annually by the Academy to a feature-length motion picture produced outside the United States with at least 50 per cent non-English dialogue.