TGMAAN Storms Ibadan Retreat With Bold Vision to Revolutionise Nollywood Storytelling

The Golden Movie Ambassadors Association of Nigeria (TGMAAN) has launched a fresh campaign to redefine storytelling in Nollywood, as filmmakers, actors, directors and industry stakeholders gathered at the prestigious Ilaji Resort in Ibadan for the association’s 2026 annual retreat focused on breaking creative and technical barriers in the Nigerian movie industry.

The retreat, themed “Breaking Ordinary Limits in Depiction (BOLD),” brought together some of the most respected names in Nollywood to chart a new direction for indigenous filmmaking, cinematic excellence and globally competitive storytelling.

The event, which began on Wednesday and will run until Saturday, May 16, is designed not only as a strategic industry gathering but also as a creative think-tank aimed at repositioning Nigerian films beyond conventional narratives and production standards.

At the heart of the discussions was the growing need for Nollywood practitioners to move beyond repetitive storytelling patterns and embrace originality, authenticity, cultural depth and world-class technical delivery capable of competing on international platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and major global film festivals.

One of the lead speakers at the conference, Tayo Adetunji, Head of Channels at MultiChoice Nigeria, challenged filmmakers to become more intentional about every stage of film production, stressing that successful storytelling begins with clarity of purpose.

According to Adetunji, filmmakers must first answer critical questions before embarking on any production.

He explained that understanding what story to tell, why the story matters, how it should be executed and the right timing for production are foundational elements in creating impactful films capable of transcending local audiences.

Adetunji further emphasized that technical quality remains one of the biggest distinguishing factors in global filmmaking, noting that poor sound, weak lighting and substandard picture quality continue to limit the international acceptance of many African productions.

However, he warned that technical sophistication alone cannot save a weak script.

He stressed that compelling storytelling and professional interpretation remain the soul of every successful movie project, regardless of budget or star power.

Veteran Nollywood actor and director Bimbo Manuel also delivered a passionate presentation on the role of indigenous culture and language in expanding Nollywood’s global relevance.

Using the Yoruba movie industry as a case study, Manuel lamented the gradual erosion of indigenous languages in contemporary filmmaking, warning that the industry risks losing its originality if local languages and cultural expressions continue to be abandoned in pursuit of urban trends.

He argued that the future of Nigerian cinema lies not in imitating foreign cultures but in exporting authentic African stories rooted in indigenous identity.

According to him, some of the biggest global film industries — including Korean, Indian and Spanish-language cinemas — attained international recognition by proudly promoting their native languages and cultural heritage rather than suppressing them.

He further advised producers not to rush their productions if it is not properly depicted, never hire actors and others based on sentiment, insisting that filmmaking is business.

Industry analysts at the retreat noted that the global success of Korean dramas, Bollywood productions and Spanish-language series on streaming platforms has proven that language is no longer a barrier to international acceptance, provided the storytelling is compelling and production quality is strong.

Participants at the retreat stressed that Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and other indigenous Nigerian language films possess enormous untapped global potential if properly packaged with quality subtitles, strong cinematography and universal themes capable of resonating with international audiences.

Many speakers also observed that indigenous-language films preserve cultural identity, promote tourism and deepen emotional connection with audiences in ways that overly westernised productions often fail to achieve.

The conference attracted several notable figures in the Nigerian movie industry, including veteran actor and TGMAAN President Saidi Balogun, alongside Tunde Olaoye, Kunle Afod, Raph Niyi, Kola Olaiya, Sesan Audio popularly known as Ojoge, Mustapha Patrick (Otolo), Ben Cupa, Jogunomi, Taiwo Arokomatidi and several actors, directors, producers and technical professionals.

Beyond networking and panel sessions, the retreat is expected to produce practical resolutions aimed at improving collaboration, raising production standards and mentoring younger filmmakers within the industry.

Observers say the TGMAAN retreat reflects a growing determination within Nollywood to reposition itself from being merely prolific to becoming globally dominant through richer storytelling, stronger cultural identity and improved technical excellence.