The search is on again. The search for a film to represent the country at the 99th Academy Awards as the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) opens the portal to submissions.
According to the committee’s notice, filmmakers can submit eligible films through the official NOSC portal from August 1 to August 31, 2026. Full eligibility requirements and submission guidelines are available on the committee’s website.
The selected film will become Nigeria’s official entry for the Oscars ceremony scheduled for March 14, 2027. The Academy’s final deadline for countries to submit their international feature selections is September 30, 2026.
Although the NOSC received submissions last year, the committee didn’t come to a decision on a representative film, hence Nigeria’s absence, the third time in five years that the country had no Oscar entry, following similar outcomes in 2020 and 2023.
This year’s submission process also coincides with important changes to the Academy’s International Feature Film rules.
For the 99th Oscars, there are now two ways for a non-English language film to qualify for consideration. The first remains the traditional route, where a film is submitted as the official selection of a country or region through the Academy-approved selection committee, such as NOSC.
The second route allows a film to qualify by winning a specified award at any of these qualifying festivals: Berlin International Film Festival (Golden Bear for Best Film), Busan International Film Festival (Busan Award / Best Film Award), Cannes Film Festival (Palme d’Or), Sundance Film Festival (World Cinema Grand Jury Prize), Toronto International Film Festival (Platform Award), and Venice International Film Festival (Golden Lion).
The Academy has also changed how nominees are credited in the category. Beginning with the 99th Oscars, the film itself will be recognised as the nominee rather than the country. Also, the winning film will be accepted by the director on behalf of the film’s creative team, and the director’s name will appear on the statuette plaque after the film title and, where applicable, the country.
To qualify for NOSC consideration, a film must have had a commercial theatrical release for at least seven consecutive days in its country of origin between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026, in line with the Academy’s eligibility requirements.
Key Dates for Nigeria’s Oscar Submission Process
Eligibility window
January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
NOSC submission period
August 1 – August 31, 2026
Academy submission deadline for International Feature Film
September 30, 2026
Important Academy Dates
Shortlists announcement
December 15, 2026
Nominations voting period
January 11 – 15, 2027
Oscar nominations announcement
January 21, 2027
Final voting period
February 25 – March 4, 2027
99th Academy Awards ceremony
March 14, 2027
Nigeria’s most recent official Oscar entry was Prince Daniel’s Mai Martaba, which was submitted for the 97th Academy Awards in 2024.
In more Oscar-related news, My Father’s Shadow’s Akinola Davies Jr., Sope Dirisu and PC Williams have all been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in the Short Film, Acting and Costume Designers’ branches.
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