A Reality Check for Nollywood: Netflix Stops Commissioning Original Nigerian Content
Guests at the 2024 Zuma International Film Festival in Abuja were met with a stern message from respected filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, who revealed that Netflix has ceased commissioning original content from Nigerian producers.
Speaking at the event, Afolayan shared a somber tale of how Netflix informed filmmakers that they would no longer be funding Nigerian movies, leaving many producers worried about the financial implications of this shift.
As a filmmaker who has been fortunate enough to complete seasons two and three of the Anikulapo series, Afolayan emphasized the significant impact this news would have on the industry, particularly on producers who invest heavily in their projects.
Although some upcoming projects were already cancelled, Afolayan urged filmmakers to stay focused on producing high-quality content, regardless of any setbacks. In his words:
“The way we’ve been told is that Netflix has decided to stop funding our productions. At a party, they shared this news with us, subtly hinting that it’s over. We’ve been discomforted, and this should motivate us to work even harder. If we don’t face challenges, we won’t recognize opportunities. We can no longer rely solely on Netflix.
“If we focus on making content that resonates globally, regardless of language or medium, the world will find us. The quality of our work will speak for itself.”
Afolayan shared that the development is a cause for concern, particularly since they had signed a three-film deal with Netflix just three years ago. The agreement had guaranteed a specific number of films per year, accompanied by a significant budget.
“We were told that our content would be well-compensated, with guaranteed funds tied to the Nigerian market. Thankfully, we’ve completed seasons two and three of Anikulapo, unlike other projects that were commissioned at the same time as ours, which were unfortunately cancelled.
