Over the years, we’ve watched Nollywood shift from home videos and hurried productions to cinema releases, streaming deals, and higher production values. But now, a new wave is approaching. It’s digital, it’s automated, and it’s intelligent. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is entering global filmmaking, and Nollywood isn’t exempt.

The question is: will these tools elevate our stories or erode their soul?

There’s a temptation to adopt what’s new simply because it’s trending. But in the world of film, we have to ask ourselves: how do we use technology without losing the very thing that makes our stories matter?

The State of Nollywood Today

There’s no doubt that Nollywood is getting better. We’ve seen noticeable progress. The stories are evolving, the visuals are improving, and many filmmakers are pushing boundaries despite the odds. From where I stand, not as a core industry insider but as someone who observes closely, the effort is visible. But so are the limitations.

Some productions are simply constrained by what’s available. Resources are tight, so the team makes do. In many cases, money becomes both a blessing and a curse. Once a budget comes in, expectations skyrocket. Will the film make back the investment? Will it break even? Will it hit cinemas or streaming platforms in time? If production delays, you risk spending even more. And if you start too quickly, you risk cutting corners during production.

This is why you’ll find one person wearing multiple hats. The director is also the producer. Sometimes, they’re the lead actor as well. And the department that has suffered the most; the script supervisor is in charge of continuity and slating the clapperboard. That’s not multitasking. That’s survival. But how do you focus on delivering a brilliant performance when you’re also thinking about catering, call sheets and finance?

Even when the budget is solid, the problem shifts. With money available, there’s pressure to go for what’s marketable instead of what’s meaningful. In Nollywood, star-studded casts are the go-to formula. Faces sell. Influencers, comedians, popular names—put them all in! Whether or not they can act is secondary.

But, when you stack too many of them into one film, it becomes a battle for screen time. Everyone must shine. Everyone must do their thing. So, while the story should be the anchor, it often ends up buried under performances designed to trend and actors struggling to leave their signature.

The result? Distraction. One actor is sidelined. A comedian is forcing a punchline. An influencer is grabbing rice at a wedding reception. It becomes noise. And somewhere in the middle of all that noise, the story takes the brunt.

Nollywood’s Relationship with Trends

Nollywood is aware. We see what’s happening globally (well, we’ll not go into how AI is now accepted into filmmaking processes now. Take for example The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez at the 2025 Oscars) We know what tools are available, what the industry standard is elsewhere, and what’s being said in film circles around the world. But awareness doesn’t always translate to execution. The issue isn’t whether we know about the trends, it’s whether we know how to apply them with nuance.

A good example is the rise of AI-generated imagery. When it became a hot topic, Nollywood quickly jumped on it. Around that time, a film titled Beast of Both Worlds was released. It opened with a narrated sequence paired with AI-generated images. It was meant to be a storytelling device, something fresh and visually striking. But to be honest, it came off as lazy. It didn’t feel thoughtful. The visuals looked clearly artificial, and instead of drawing the audience in, they pulled us out of the story.

Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it belongs in the work. Filmmaking isn’t about ticking “tech boxes”. If the technology doesn’t serve the story, then it’s just noise.

That said, Nollywood also has a knack for taking trends and flipping them into something that works for our context. Publicity is a perfect example. We don’t do trailers and press junkets the way Hollywood does. Instead, we dance. We jump on TikTok trends. We do skits. Look at Funke Akindele—she’s mastered the formula. Create buzz without saying too much about the film. Just let people know it’s coming. Let them see the faces they love. Let them laugh, share and anticipate.

It may not appeal to everyone, and it may feel a bit shallow at times, but it’s authentic to our audience. And that matters. Still, each filmmaker must ask: does this approach suit my story? Does it reflect the kind of creative identity I want to build? Authenticity isn’t just about doing what works, it’s about doing what’s true to you.

AI in Filmmaking: Tool or Threat?

AI is everywhere now. In film, it’s being used to write scripts, generate images, edit scenes, mimic voices and even recreate actors’ faces. For some, it’s a time-saver. For others, it’s the beginning of a creative crisis. Personally, I don’t believe AI should write scripts. There’s something deeply human about storytelling. When we give that to a machine, we lose something vital. We lose the soul of the art.

Film is creativity. Creativity is born from authenticity. That authenticity comes from lived experience, emotion, and perspective. AI doesn’t feel. It doesn’t choose words with intention. It doesn’t express; it replicates. It pulls from existing work and remixes it. That’s not creation. That’s duplication with polish.

Take the Disney animated film, Wish for example. Some people wondered if AI had a hand in the writing. It felt hollow. Then there’s Makemation, a family drama film marketed as an AI-led project. Maybe when it drops, it will give us a better picture of how Nollywood truly sees AI.

AI is both a threat and a tool. A few weeks back, and probably still, Ghibli-style AI art has been trending. It’s beautiful, no doubt. But it also feels like a lazy appreciation of Miyazaki’s work. People who’ve never seen his films or even read the books are now recreating his style without context. It’s become aesthetic without meaning. Ironically, Miyazaki himself once said,

“I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.”

Sadly, it’s his work being copied the most.

Some filmmakers have joined the trend, generating AI posters and visuals in that style.

At the same time, AI can help. Niyi Akinmolayan once shared how he uses AI to generate storyboards. For directors who don’t know how to sketch or visualise a scene, that’s a big help. It saves time. It saves money. But again, the process of art is also being stripped down. Fewer people are hired. Fewer hands are needed. The unique touch of an illustrator is lost.

So should Nollywood embrace AI now? Yes. But wisely. Use it as a tool. Not as a replacement for collaboration. Not as a shortcut around creativity. Let AI serve the vision, not define it.

Cultural and Ethical Tensions

There’s often a concern that introducing technology like AI and virtual tools into Nollywood could make our films feel less African, less rooted in culture. But the problem isn’t Westernisation. The issue is that AI lacks nuance. It doesn’t naturally understand “Africanness” unless it’s taught to. Even when it tries, it often gets it wrong, because it reflects the perspective of its creators.

And who created it? Not Nigerians. Not Africans. Most of the tools we use were developed elsewhere, shaped by different histories, languages and values. There’s a saying that a creation can never rise above its creator. The biases, blind spots and assumptions of the developer are baked into the design. That’s why AI sometimes struggles with understanding our stories, our traditions, our tone. Yes, it’s improving, but only a human being who has lived the culture can express it fully and accurately.

There are also ethical issues that Nollywood should not ignore. AI scrapes data from artists, writers and filmmakers without their consent. It borrows styles, images and voices. Someone might say “give me an animation in the style of Ghibli” and the machine delivers it. What happens when an AI starts mimicking the voice or likeness of an actor who never gave permission? What if it’s used to finish a film without the actor ever being on set?

AI also learns from what we feed it. Every image, text or idea entered into it becomes part of its system. That’s how private data becomes public. That’s how unique ideas get recycled and sold back to us in new packaging.

To keep Nollywood’s voice intact, we have to be intentional. Let ideation, the heart of the creative process, stay with humans. Let machines assist, not initiate. If we let AI decide the themes, the tone, the style, we’ll end up sounding like everyone else. Our strength has always been in our perspective. We can’t afford to lose that now.

Where Do We Go From Here?

There’s no reason for Nollywood to sit back and wait. AI and virtual production are not passing trends. They’re already changing how films are made globally, and we shouldn’t be left behind. But as we embrace these tools, we have to be clear about our priorities.

We should experiment, but do it with sense. Use AI to support the work, not to replace the work. Let it help with storyboards, scheduling, research or visual effects. But let the soul of the story remain human. Let the ideas come from real voices, not recycled data.

We’re still growing as an industry. And yes, there will be disruptions. Jobs will shift, processes will change, and some tools will challenge the way we’ve always done things. That’s the nature of change. But growth doesn’t mean imitation. We don’t have to mirror what other industries are doing to be seen as innovative. We can take what’s useful and shape it into something that fits our own rhythm.

If we ignore this shift entirely, we risk getting stuck. We risk becoming outdated. But if we rush in without thought, we risk losing the very thing that makes our films ours.

So the question isn’t whether to embrace AI and virtual production. The real question is: how do we do it in a way that strengthens our stories instead of stripping them of meaning?

That’s the challenge. And that’s the opportunity.