Written by Kianna Best on May 18, 2025. Posted in Awards and Festivals

My Father's Shadow makes historic Cannes debut for Nigerian Cinema

Akinola Davies Jr.’s debut feature, My Father’s Shadow, premiered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2025, marking a watershed moment as the first Nigerian fiction film in the festival’s Official Selection. Set during the political turbulence of the 1993 Nigerian elections, the film delivers a poignant story of estranged family and national identity. Shot on location in Lagos and Ibadan, the project exemplifies Africa’s rising influence in global cinema.

The global spotlight turned to Nigeria this week as My Father’s Shadow, the highly anticipated debut feature by British-Nigerian director Akinola Davies Jr., premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Screening in the Un Certain Regard section, the film’s inclusion marks a historic milestone—it's the first Nigerian fiction film to enter the Official Selection at Cannes.

Written and directed by Davies, My Father’s Shadow is a semi-autobiographical drama set during one of the most pivotal moments in Nigeria’s recent history—the 1993 presidential elections, which were later annulled by the military regime. Against this charged political backdrop, the film tells the intimate story of a father estranged from his two sons, navigating both familial estrangement and national uncertainty.

The film was shot in early 2024 in Lagos and Ibadan, capturing the dynamic tension of Nigeria’s urban landscapes. Its visual storytelling is immersive, textured with a palette that reflects both the warmth and complexity of life in Nigeria’s cities. But what truly sets the film apart is its uncompromising commitment to authenticity: over 90% of the crew were African, and more than 80% were Nigerian.

The production was helmed by Rachel Dargavel of Element Pictures alongside Funmbi Ogunbanwo of Fatherland Productions. According to Davies, the film’s development and execution were deeply collaborative, drawing on local talent and resources to ensure cultural fidelity and resonance. “We set out to make a film that is unapologetically Nigerian in its voice, its rhythm, and its heart,” said Davies during the press conference in Cannes. “It’s a personal story, but one that reflects a larger national and generational truth.”

The reception in Cannes has been enthusiastic, with international critics praising the film’s lyrical storytelling and emotional precision. Many have noted its thematic parallels with global issues—fatherhood, migration, political violence—giving it a cross-cultural resonance that transcends borders. Variety described it as “a landmark debut that signals a bold new voice in world cinema.”

Adding to its international momentum, My Father’s Shadow was acquired for distribution by streaming platform MUBI in a deal covering North America, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, and other key territories. The acquisition underscores the film’s potential to reach diverse global audiences and cements MUBI’s continued interest in curating cinema from emerging African auteurs.

The significance of this moment is not lost on the Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood. While Nigerian cinema has long enjoyed commercial success across Africa and its diaspora, recognition by top-tier festivals like Cannes has remained elusive—until now. The presence of My Father’s Shadow on such a revered stage is a signal to international curators, distributors, and audiences: Nigerian cinema is entering a new era of global presence.

Davies, who previously won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for Lizard in 2021, has steadily built a reputation for stories that explore spiritual, familial, and postcolonial dimensions of Black identity. My Father’s Shadow represents a culmination of that vision—expanding from short-form experimentation to the grandeur of long-form cinema without losing its emotional core.

As the festival continues and global eyes remain fixed on Cannes, My Father’s Shadow emerges not just as a cinematic achievement, but as a cultural turning point—an eloquent and necessary contribution to the global film narrative, delivered in the voice of contemporary Nigeria.

Images courtesy of Festival de Cannes