‘I’m not chasing numbers or awards’ – Biodun Stephen explains her approach to filmmaking

Nollywood filmmaker Biodun Stephen has said her approach to filmmaking is driven by purpose and the impact of her stories rather than box office records, audience numbers or awards.

Stephen shared her perspective on success and the pressure within the film industry during an appearance on the Paul & Baaj: In Character podcast.

The director, who recently urged colleagues to stop announcing their cinema earnings, said her motivation goes beyond commercial success, stressing that she prioritises telling meaningful stories that resonate with audiences.

“I’m doing it because I am living a life of purpose; I’m not chasing the numbers, I’m not chasing the audience,” she said.

Stephen explained that the emotional connection viewers establish with her films means more to her than awards or record-breaking box office figures.

According to her, one of the most fulfilling aspects of her work is receiving messages from people whose lives have been touched by her stories.

“When people call me to pray… and cry and say thank you so much, Jesus, my work is done, no award,” she said.

The filmmaker noted that Nollywood has become increasingly focused on box office figures, with filmmakers and audiences often using cinema earnings to judge the quality of a movie or the success of its creator.

She argued that the obsession with numbers places unnecessary pressure on creatives and shifts attention away from the essence of storytelling.

For Stephen, success lies in the lives her films touch and the conversations they inspire, rather than how much they earn at the cinema or the number of awards they receive.