BRITISH‑NIGERIAN DIRECTOR AKINOLA DAVIES JR

BRITISH‑NIGERIAN DIRECTOR AKINOLA DAVIES JR. SHINES AT CANNES HISTORIC MOMENT FOR AFRICAN CINEMA
At the Grand Théâtre Lumière in Cannes, France, British‑Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. stood to a standing ovation from more than 2,000 industry peers after the prestigious Cannes Film Festival jury recognised his feature debut, My Father’s Shadow, with a Caméra d’Or Special Mention a first for a Nigerian film at the festival.
The moment marked a cultural milestone not only for Davies Jr., but also for Nigeria’s film industry often known globally for Nollywood by bringing a deeply personal story of family and memory to one of world cinema’s most celebrated stages.
My Father’s Shadow is a semi‑autobiographical drama directed by Davies Jr. and co‑written with his brother Wale Davies. The film follows a father and his two young sons navigating the vast city of Lagos during the volatile 1993 Nigerian election crisis, exploring themes of memory, identity, loss, and national history.
Director: Akinola Davies Jr.
Writer: Akinola and Wale Davies
Lead Actor: Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù
Production: UK‑Nigeria co‑production by Element Pictures, BBC Film, BFI, Fatherland Productions and Crybaby
The film debuted in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in May 2025, becoming the first Nigerian film in the festival’s Official Selection, a watershed moment for Nigerian and African cinema on the global stage. Cannes Film Festival Caméra d’Or Special Mention
At Cannes, the film was acknowledged by the jury with a Special Mention in the Caméra d’Or category, recognising Davies Jr. as a standout first‑time feature director.
Roger Ebert The film led the 2025 BIFA nominations, with 12 nominations including Best Director and Best British Independent Film, highlighting its creative excellence and cross‑cultural recognition. The film has also screened in multiple international festivals, gaining awards and acclaim reinforcing its global appeal.
My Father’s Shadow was selected as the United Kingdom’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Academy Awards, marking an exceptional step for the film and its cast/crew onto the Oscar stage. Davies Jr.’s success represents a dramatic shift: a Nigerian story rooted in local history and told with international cinematic language has claimed space on the world’s most prestigious film platforms, traditionally dominated by Western narratives. Industry observers note that the film’s recognition at Cannes and other major festivals sends a powerful message: authentic African storytelling can resonate universally and compete at the highest levels of cinema.
Behind the scenes, the film was largely shaped by a predominantly Nigerian and African team, with some reports indicating over 80 % African crew, blending local voice with global filmmaking expertise.
Akinola Davies Jr. is a British‑Nigerian filmmaker whose early work included acclaimed shorts like Lizard, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2021 and earned BAFTA recognition. He built his career directing music videos and commercials before transitioning to feature filmmaking. Davies Jr. has spoken about his craft as rooted in personal experience and collaborative storytelling, a philosophy evident in My Father’s Shadow, which draws on family history and cultural memory.