Efe Irele Urges Filmmakers to Balance Commerce and Emotion in Nollywood

Efe Irele

Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Efe Irele, has called for greater balance in Nigeria’s movie industry, urging filmmakers to create productions that combine commercial success with emotional storytelling.

In an interview with Saturday Beats, Irele praised the efforts of Nigerian filmmakers in elevating the industry but stressed that financial sustainability remains key to its continued growth.

“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.

The actress noted that the rise of streaming platforms has transformed viewing habits, influencing how stories are told and consumed.

According to her, filmmakers must now find ways to make cinema experiences worth the audience’s effort and money.

“Not everyone wants to go to the cinemas anymore, especially with streaming taking over. We have to make movies that make people laugh, unwind, and enjoy themselves, because that’s what a lot of viewers are looking for,” she stated.

However, Irele emphasized that while entertainment value is important, the industry must not lose its emotional core. She added that stories capable of evoking strong feelings and deep thought are what keep the art form authentic and meaningful.