My Father's Shadow

Last updated

My Father's Shadow
My Father's Shadow poster.jpg
Nigerian theatrical release poster
Directed by Akinola Davies Jr.
Written byWale Davies
Akinola Davies Jr.
Produced by
  • Rachel Dargavel
  • Funmbi Ogunbanwo
Starring Sope Dirisu
CinematographyJermaine Canute Bradley Edwards
Edited byOmar Guzmán Castro
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byFilmOne Entertainment (Nigeria) [1]
Mubi (United Kingdom)
Release dates
  • 18 May 2025 (2025-05-18)(Cannes)
  • 19 September 2025 (2025-09-19)(Nigeria)
  • 6 February 2026 (2026-02-06)(United Kingdom)
Running time
93 minutes [2]
CountriesUnited Kingdom
Nigeria
LanguagesEnglish
Naija
Yoruba

My Father's Shadow is a 2025 drama film directed by Akinola Davies Jr., in his feature length film debut, from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Wale Davies. Starring Sope Dirisu, it follows a family reunion during the 1993 Nigerian election. [3] [4] It was theatrically released in Nigeria on 19 September 2025 by FilmOne Entertainment.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May, [5] becoming the first Nigerian film to be selected for the festival's Official Selection. It won the Special Mention for the Caméra d'Or . [6]

The film was critical acclaimed, receiving numerous awards and nominations, including a British Independent Film Award and two Gotham Independent Film Award. It was also selected as the UK's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. [7]

Premise

Set against the backdrop of the 1993 Nigerian presidential election, two young brothers spend a day in Lagos with their estranged father. [8]

Cast

Production

The film is produced by Element Pictures and directed by Akinola Davies Jr. from a script he co-wrote with Wale Davies. It is produced in association with Crybaby and Fatherland Productions. It was developed by BBC Film, who were a co-financer, and the BFI. Producers are Rachel Dargavel for Element Pictures and Funmbi Ogunbanwo for Fatherland Productions. [9]

The Davies brothers developed the idea for the film over more than a decade, drawing inspiration from the loss of their father when they were both very young. In 2012, Wale wrote the first draft of the script, which centers on two brothers spending a day in Lagos with their father on the day of Nigeria's historic 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as a turning point in the nation’s contemporary history. [10]

Principal photography took place in Lagos, Nigeria. [11]

Cast and crew at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival Main Cast of My Father's Shadow at 2025 Cannes Photocall.jpg
Cast and crew at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 18 May 2025 and North American Premier September 8 at the Toronto International Film Festival. [12] Its wide release in Nigerian cinemas followed on September 19.

It will compete in the International competition section of the 56th International Film Festival of India in November 2025. [13]

The streaming service Mubi acquired distribution rights for North America, the U.K., Ireland, and Turkey in February 2025. [4] The film is set to be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 6 February 2026. [14]

Reception

Early reviews following the film's premiere at Cannes from media such as Variety , Deadline Hollywood , The Guardian , IndieWire , and Screen Daily were widely favorable. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

Accolades

The film received 12 nominations for the British Independent Film Awards 2025, including best British independent film and director. [20]

Award / FestivalDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Cannes Film Festival 24 May 2025 Un Certain Regard Akinola Davies Jr. Nominated [21]
Caméra d'Or – Special MentionWon
BFI London Film Festival 19 October 2025 Sutherland Award My Father's ShadowNominated [22]
Chicago International Film Festival 24 October 2025 Gold HugoNominated [23]
Special MentionWon [24]
Seville European Film Festival 15 November 2025 Rampa AwardWon [25]
International Film Festival of India 28 November 2025 Special Jury Award Akinola Davies Jr.Won [26]
British Independent Film Awards 30 November 2025 Best British Independent Film Akinola Davies Jr., Wale Davies, Rachel Dargavel, Funmbi OgunbanwoNominated [27]
Best Director Akinola Davies Jr.Won
Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) Nominated
Best Screenplay Wale DaviesNominated
Best Debut Screenwriter Nominated
Best Cinematography Jermaine EdwardsNominated
Best Costume Design PC WilliamsNominated
Best Editing Omar Guzman CastroNominated
Best Make-Up & Hair Design Kehinde Are, Feyzo OyebisiNominated
Best Original Music CJ MirraNominated
Best Production Design Jennifer Anti, Pablo AntiNominated
Best Sound CJ Mirra, James Ridgway, Joe Jackson, Adele Fletcher, Pius FatokeNominated
Gotham Independent Film Awards 1 December 2025 Breakthrough Director Akinola Davies Jr.Won [28]
Outstanding Lead Performance Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù Won

See also

References

  1. ↑ ""My Father's Shadow" Set to Hit Nigerian Cinemas on September 19". Get Unruly. August 27, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  2. ↑ "My Father's Shadow (12A)". British Board of Film Classification . September 12, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  3. ↑ Kan, Toni (April 14, 2025). "'My Father's Shadow' set for historic Cannes debut". The Lagos Review. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Ford, Lily (April 15, 2025). "Two Boys and Their Dad Wander Through Lagos in 'My Father's Shadow' (Exclusive First Look)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  5. ↑ "The Screenings Guide of the 78th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  6. ↑ Obi, Ifi (April 16, 2025). "'My Father's Shadow' Makes History as Nigeria's First Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival". Rolling Stone Africa . Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  7. ↑ Ritman, Alex (October 14, 2025). "Oscars: U.K. Submits 'My Father's Shadow' for International Feature Race (Exclusive)". Variety . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ Ford, Lily (February 11, 2025). "Sopé Dìrísù Leads Akinola Davies Jr.'s Directorial Debut, 'My Father's Shadow,' Set in Lagos". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  9. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (February 11, 2025). "Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù Leads Akinola Davies Jr's Buzzy Feature Debut 'My Father's Shadow' For Element, BBC Film, BFI, Mubi & The Match Factory". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Cannes standout 'My Father's Shadow' marks a historic first for Nigeria". AP News. May 19, 2025. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  11. ↑ Ritman, Alex (February 11, 2025). "Sope Dirisu to Lead Akinola Davies Jr.'s 'My Father's Shadow' for Element Pictures, BBC Film, Mubi". Variety. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  12. ↑ "My Father's Shadow". TIFF. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  13. ↑ Naman Ramachandran (November 8, 2025). "Miike Takashi's 'Sham,' Rajkumar Periasamy's 'Amaran' to Compete for Golden Peacock at India's IFFI". Variety . Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Slow Horses star's near-perfect '90s-set drama with "heartfelt" plot finally gets UK release date". Digital Spy . September 20, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ Elfadl, Murtada (May 19, 2025). "'My Father's Shadow' Review: Nigeria's First Ever Cannes Selection Marks a Miraculous Gem of Autofiction". Variety. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  16. ↑ Hammond, Pete (May 18, 2025). "'My Father's Shadow' Review: First Nigerian Film Selected For Competition Is A Moving Universal Story Of Fathers And Sons – Cannes Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  17. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (May 18, 2025). "My Father's Shadow review – subtle and intelligent coming-of-age tale set in 1993 Nigeria". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  18. ↑ Ehrlich, David (May 18, 2025). "'My Father's Shadow' Review: The First Nigerian Film to Premiere at Cannes Is a Beautifully Remembered Drama About a Fateful Day Trip Into Lagos". IndieWire. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ Ide, Wendy (May 18, 2025). "'My Father's Shadow' review: Sope Dirisu stars in this electric debut set in 1990s Nigeria". Screen. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  20. ↑ Ritman, Alex (November 3, 2025). "'My Father's Shadow,' 'Pillion' and 'I Swear' Lead British Independent Film Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Cannes standout 'My Father's Shadow' marks a historic first for Nigeria". AP News. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  22. ↑ Boyce, Laurence (September 4, 2025). "The BFI London Film Festival lifts the lid on the titles for its 69th edition". Cineuropa . Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  23. ↑ Jeremy Kay (September 10, 2025). "'Sound Of Falling', 'Sirât', 'La Grazia' among Chicago international competition picks". ScreenDaily . Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Festival Award Winners". Cinema Chicago. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  25. ↑ "'We Believe You' gana el Giraldillo de Oro del 22 Festival de Cine Europeo de Sevilla". Europa Press (in Spanish). November 15, 2025. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  26. ↑ Naman Ramachandran, Udita Jhunjhunwala (November 28, 2025). "Transgender Vietnamese Drama 'Skin of Youth' Wins Top Prize at International Film Festival of India". Variety . Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  27. ↑ Ford, Lily; Szalai, Georg (November 3, 2025). "British Independent Film Awards: 'My Father's Shadow' and 'Pillion' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  28. ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (October 28, 2025). "Gotham Awards Film Nominations: 'One Battle After Another' Leads Pack; Multiple Noms For 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You', 'It Was Just An Accident', 'No Other Choice'". Deadline . Retrieved October 28, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.