Efe Irele says Nollywood should mix entertainment with meaningful storytelling that audiences enjoy too.
She explains movies must attract cinema viewers and still help the industry make money.
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Efe Irele has encouraged Nigerian filmmakers to strike a better balance between commercial success and impactful storytelling in the movie industry.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, Irele praised the progress the industry has made in recent years but emphasized that financial returns remain essential for its sustainability.
“I must commend a lot of filmmakers right now; we’re all pushing the bar higher. We definitely need more emotionally driven stories, but we also can’t dismiss those who focus on commercial success. At the end of the day, the industry has to generate money to keep going,” she said.
She explained that the rise of streaming platforms has significantly changed viewer habits, making it even more challenging for filmmakers to attract audiences to cinemas. According to her, movies now need to offer entertainment strong enough to pull people out of their homes.
“Not everyone wants to go to the cinemas anymore, especially with streaming taking over. We have to make films that make people laugh, relax, and enjoy themselves, because that’s what many viewers want,” she noted.
Despite this commercial priority, Irele maintained that emotionally rich and thought-provoking stories are vital because they preserve the heart of filmmaking and deepen its cultural value.
