“My Father’s Shadow” has been selected as the U.K.’s official Oscar submission for best international feature at the 98th Academy Awards.
The feature debut of Akinola Davies Jr. and from Mubi, Element Pictures and Fatherland Productions, “My Father’s Shadow” — a Yoruba, Naija-Pidgin and English-language film — premiered earlier this year in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard competition, where it became Nigeria’s first title in the festival’s official selection and earned Davies Jr. a Special Mention from the jury. It was chosen to represent the U.K. by a special BAFTA selection committee.
Starring Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (“Slow Horses,” “Gangs Of London”) and introducing Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo, the film spans one day in the life of two young boys traveling with their estranged father from a small village in rural Nigeria to the bustling capital city Lagos. But this journey takes place during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis, a moment of profound historical upheaval and political unrest — when everything is on the verge of change.
In Variety‘s review from Cannes, it asserted that”My Father’s Shadow” announced Davies Jr. as a “major cinematic voice.”
The film was shot on location in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria by cinematographer Jermaine Edwards, with post-production taking place in London. It was written by Wale Davies and co-written by Akinola Davies Jr., who previously collaborated on “Lizard,” which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2021 and received a BAFTA nomination for best British short film.
“We are so excited to see the journey of this film unfold and for the film to resonate with audiences,” said the filmmaking team in a statement. “It is a film that is at once intimate and epic. Films open minds and build understanding, bringing different perspectives and experiences from all over the globe to the screen. We are so proud to be telling this Nigerian story and to sit alongside others in the international feature category that curate local to global stories, creating a diversity of storytelling that thrives through the power of collaboration.”
“My Father’s Shadow” is an Element Pictures (a Fremantle Company) production in association with Crybaby and Fatherland Productions. It is produced by Rachel Dargavel for Element Pictures and Funmbi Ogunbanwo for Fatherland Productions. Executive producers are Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, Eva Yates for BBC Film, Ama Ampadu for the BFI and Christian Vesper for Fremantle. Dìrísù, Wale Davies and Akinola Davies Jr. also act as executive producers.
The film was developed by BBC Film via Dargavel’s Crybaby, who previously backed Akinola’s short film “Lizard,” and was co-financed by BBC Film and the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding). The Match Factory handled worldwide sales. Mubi owns all rights in North America, U.K., Ireland, and Turkey.
Alongside an ongoing festival run, “My Father’s Shadow” was released to critical and commercial success by FilmOne in Nigeria on Sep. 19 and is still playing in theaters there. The U.S. and U.K. releases are set for Feb. 6, 2026, after a limited qualifier in the U.S.
The Oscar international feature shortlist will be announced on Dec. 16 and the final five nominees will be announced on Jan. 22.
Credit: Variety
