Steve Ayorinde Reveals why Nollywood movies are being included on Netflix

• Steve Ayorinde has explained why Nollywood movies are appearing on Netflix.

• He shared his thoughts on Wednesday during the announcement of the nominees for the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards.

• Steve praised the AMAA for highlighting the work of the country’s filmmakers.

Steve Ayorinde, the ex-commissioner for tourism in Lagos, explained why Nollywood movies are appearing on Netflix.

He shared his thoughts on Wednesday during the announcement of the nominees for the 2024 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

The 56-year-old, known as one of Nigeria’s top film and art critics, praised the AMAA for highlighting the work of the country’s filmmakers.

The previous Lagos commissioner for information and strategy has served on the panels of some of the most famous film festivals and awards worldwide, said: “AMAA has given filmmakers confidence and a platform to show themselves to the world that something great is happening here. Anyone nominated in any of the categories now has the world as their playground”.

“Your Hollywood, Cannes Film Festival, and Amazon Prime Video are waiting to see the AMAA winners this year so they can talk business. Let us see what you are working on. AMAA gives that platform to expose you to international collaborators. That is probably one of the biggest things you can get.”

Ayorinde mentioned that platforms like Netflix are supporting Nollywood films due to their “quality storytelling, unique narratives, and artistic and technical skills.”

“In terms of the technical aspect and the artistic aspect, I think we can compete anywhere, with anyone. But of course, do not confuse that, like in anything in the world, there are politics. There are global politics that may affect people coming from a certain part of the world,” he said.

“But in terms of artistic and technical competencies our films display qualities of the story that we tell, our own stories that we put forward, I think we can compete with anybody which is why your Netflix and other persons are interested in the stories that we are telling.”

Although Nollywood has made strides, Ayorinde pointed out that there are ongoing challenges in getting content distributed globally.

“Distribution might be a challenge. Which is a totally different scenario as to how our films are marketed,” he said.

“But in terms of the raw materials, I think we are there. The talents that are there, the technical expertise of our people who are trained all over the world in the best schools with the best filmmakers, I think they are ready to take the world. But there will also be a need for improvement.”