The past week saw another steady stream of trailers, first-look images, release-date announcements and production updates, alongside news from across exhibition, training and international collaborations.
Looking beyond the daily headlines, these are the five developments with the broadest implications for the Nigerian film industry.
Native Filmworks Completes Landmark First Features Slate with ‘The Almajiri’
Native Filmworks’ landmark First Features initiative is set to reach another milestone with the August 1 Prime Video release of The Almajiri, directed by Ibrahim Jammal. The film is the latest entry in the MBO Capital-backed slate that has supported emerging 9 Nigerian filmmakers through development, training and production, producing (alongside Michelangelo Productions) a total of 12 titles such as Love & Life, Katangari Goes to Town, Kill Boro, Cake, It Blooms in June and The Anniversary. With the original Nigerian slate now complete, Native Filmworks has already turned its attention to expanding the First Features model beyond Nigeria through its partnership with St. Kitts & Nevis and Aquarian Consult, opening future editions to Black filmmakers across Global Africa.
NOSC Opens Oscar Submissions Under Revised Academy Rules
The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) has opened submissions for Nigeria’s entry to the 99th Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category, with entries due by August 31. The call comes as the Academy introduces significant changes to the category, including a second qualification pathway that allows films to qualify by winning specified awards at approved international festivals, alongside the traditional country submission process. Beginning with the 99th Oscars, the category will recognise the film itself as the nominee rather than the submitting country, with the director receiving the statuette on behalf of the creative team if the film wins.
Netflix Extends Nigeria’s 2026 Post-Theatrical Licensing Run with ‘Colours of Fire’
Niyi Akinmolayan‘s Colours of Fire will begin streaming on Netflix across Africa on August 7 following its December 2025 theatrical release, becoming the fifth Nigerian post-theatrical licensing by the platform this year after Behind the Scenes, Gingerrr, King of Thieves and King of Thieves 2. The latest addition continues what appears to be a steady and safe licensing strategy for commercially-proven Nigerian films in 2026, with distribution outside Africa increasingly handled through Kava and Circuits.
August 21 Emerges as Nollywood’s Next Crowded Release Weekend
August is shaping up to be one of Nollywood’s busiest theatrical months of the year. Sweet 16 opens the run on August 14, before Ikenga, Aláhùn, Abujaa and A Father’s Secret all arrive a week later on August 21. Kosoko is then scheduled for August 28, creating a tightly packed three-week release corridor. The line-up sees FilmOne distributing Sweet 16, Ikenga and Kosoko, while Genesis Pictures handles Aláhùn, Nile Entertainment releases Abujaa and Cinemax distributes A Father’s Secret. The corridor also spans the expected Id El Maulud public holiday on August 25 or 26, holiday periods that distributors have traditionally targeted because of increased cinema attendance. The calendar echoes the congestion seen around May 15 earlier this year, while also standing in contrast to 2025, when July through September was the weakest quarter at the Nigerian box office, making this August corridor one of the industry’s key trends to watch in the weeks ahead.
‘Call of My Life’ Continues Historic Box Office Run
Dammy Twitch‘s Call of My Life has crossed 817 million naira at the Nigerian box office, selling more than 123,000 admissions as its theatrical run continues since its May 15 opening. The romantic drama remains the highest-grossing Nigerian release of 2026 so far and has also expanded internationally, recently premiering in Canada through distributor Snag Films while continuing its theatrical run in the United Kingdom (distributed by Evrit) and the US. The Bluhouse-produced romcom is also expected to screen at this year’s BlackStar film festival.
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