‘My Father’s Shadow’, shot in Lagos on 16mm by Nigerian brothers Akinola Davies Jr. (director) and Wale Davies (writer), has become one of the most celebrated Nigerian films in recent memory. Though it’s made by Nigerians, its core financing is of the British through BBC Film and the BFI, with producers including Rachel Dargavel alongside Nigerian Funmbi Ogunbanwo.
This structure placed primary ownership and capital outside Nigeria, even as the story, cast, crew, and locations were rooted in Lagos.
It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival as the first Nigerian feature in the festival’s official selection and earned a Caméra d’Or Special Mention.
The film was selected as the United Kingdom’s official entry for Best International Feature at the 2026 Oscars. It won a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, two Gotham Independent Film Awards (Breakthrough Director for Akinola Davies Jr. and Outstanding Lead Performance for Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù), and additional recognition at the British Independent Film Awards.
At the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), ‘My Father’s Shadow’ dominated with five awards: Best Movie, Best Director, Best Writing in a Movie, Best Score/Music, and Best Sound/Sound Design.
