Filmmakers urge govt to support AI in Nollywood

Nigerian filmmakers and stakeholders in the creative industry have called on the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for the adoption of emerging technologies in the film sector, following the completion of a Yoruba-language feature film produced substantially with artificial intelligence.

The call followed the completion of ASIRI ILU AWON OSU (Mystery of Osu Land), Parts 1 and 2, a sci-fi epic co-created by Mysterious Tech Studio and Yoruba Nollywood actress Tanwa Hameed, popularly known as Asake Omogbajumo, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday.

The filmmakers said the project represented a major development in the use of artificial intelligence in African cinema, describing it as the world’s first photorealistic and longest Yoruba feature film powered by AI.

Running for more than three hours, the film was produced using a hybrid approach that combines artificial intelligence with human creativity. According to the creators, “About 80 per cent of the film’s visuals were generated with advanced AI tools, while the remaining 20 per cent involved human direction and live-action performances.

“The project was developed over three months between June and September 2025 and tells a science-fiction story centred on society, power and humanity, while drawing heavily from Yoruba culture and the wider African cultural experience. We are now calling on the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for the adoption of emerging technologies in the film sector.”

The creators said the project demonstrated the potential of AI to reduce some of the financial and logistical barriers traditionally associated with filmmaking, particularly for independent filmmakers operating without access to large production budgets, sophisticated equipment and extensive crews.

“We further urge the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to pay greater attention to the emerging intersection between technology and the creative industry by supporting innovation, providing access to digital infrastructure and creating policies that would enable Nigerian filmmakers to explore AI responsibly.”

The filmmakers stressed that the use of AI in the project was not intended to replace actors, directors or other creative professionals, but to complement human creativity and provide filmmakers with additional tools for storytelling.

They argued that the development could open new opportunities for Nigerian filmmakers to produce ambitious projects at lower costs while enabling indigenous stories to reach international audiences.

The project had earlier been submitted to Guinness World Records in October 2025 under a proposed category for the longest cinematic film co-created by AI and a human director.

However, following a three-month review, Guinness World Records declined the application on January 27, 2026, saying the proposed category had not been formally established.

The filmmakers described the decision as an administrative issue rather than a rejection of the film itself. “The title rejection does not change reality. The film exists. It was completed. And it was done first,” the filmmakers said in a joint statement.

Despite the decision, Mysterious Tech Studio said it would proceed with plans for the global release of the film, targeting audiences including members of the public, film critics, researchers and technology innovators.

The creators said the project was intended to demonstrate how technology could be combined with traditional storytelling without erasing cultural identity.

They noted that the use of AI had enabled the production to blend human voices, direction and storytelling with digitally generated imagery while retaining Yoruba language and cultural elements.

The filmmakers maintained that the development of AI-powered cinema presented an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its position in the global creative economy if the country could provide the right policy, infrastructure and skills-development framework. The film is expected to debut on major streaming platforms soon.