Renowned director and producer Lancelot Imasuen voiced concerns about Netflix's over-reliance on third-party agreements, suggesting a greater emphasis on direct engagement with content creators.
Imasuen's historical film, "Invasion 1897," was among Netflix's first ten Nigerian acquisitions; however, he feels their current business model is unduly restrictive. He has voiced concerns regarding their acquisition process and collaborative efforts with Nigerian filmmakers, suggesting an overemphasis on a single industry segment.
He advocates for direct content creator engagement and a more inclusive commissioning process to broaden participation and showcase diverse filmmaking talent.
Also, Alex Eyengho, former president of the Association of Core Nollywood Producers (ANCOP), concurred with Mr. Imasuen's assessment, advocating for increased accessibility and transparency in Netflix's content acquisition processes, specifically recommending the elimination of intermediary aggregators.
He stated that Netflix should engage directly with content creators and owners while maintaining its quality standards, characterizing the current aggregator system as inefficient and ultimately detrimental to the industry.
Furthermore, Fidelis Duker, founder of the Abuja International Film Festival, noted that a potential Netflix withdrawal may not significantly impact the film industry, given the widespread adoption of YouTube by industry professionals.