“In the Father’s Shadow” was selected as Britain’s official Oscar for international feature film at the 98th Academy Awards.
My Father’s Shadow, the debut feature film by Akinola Davis Jr. and Mubi, Element Pictures and Fatherland Productions (a film in Yoruba, Naija Pidgin and English), premiered at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard competition earlier this year, making it Nigeria’s first title in the festival’s official selection and earning Davis Jr. a special award from the jury. Selected to represent Great Britain by BAFTA’s special selection committee.
Starring Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Slow Horses, Gangs of London) and also featuring Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvelous Egbo, the film depicts a day in the life of two boys who travel with their estranged father from a small village in rural Nigeria to the bustling capital of Lagos. But this journey took place during the 1993 Nigerian electoral crisis, a moment of profound historical upheaval and political instability, a time when everything was on the verge of change.
Variety magazine’s review at Cannes claimed that In the Father’s Shadow announced Davis Jr. as a “major film voice.”
The film was shot on location in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria, by cinematographer Jermaine Edwards, with post-production taking place in London. The film was written by Wale Davis and co-written by Akinola Davis Jr. He previously collaborated on The Lizard, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2021 and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Short Film.
“We are excited to see this film’s journey unfold and see it resonate with audiences,” the film’s production team said in a statement. “This is a film that is both intimate and epic. Film opens hearts, deepens understanding, and brings different perspectives and experiences from around the world to the screen. We are so proud to tell this Nigerian story and stand alongside others in the international feature category, which curate stories from local to global, creating a diversity of storytelling that thrives on the power of collaboration.”
“My Father’s Shadow” is a production of Element Pictures (Fremantle Company) in association with Crybaby and Fatherland Productions. Element Pictures’ Rachel Dargavel and Fatherland Productions’ Funmbi Ogunbanwo will produce. Executive producers are Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, Eva Yates for BBC Film, Ama Ampadu for BFI and Christian Vesper for Fremantle. Diris, Wale Davis and Akinola Davis Jr. will also serve as executive producers.
The film was developed by BBC Films through Dargabel’s Crybaby, who previously backed Akinola’s short film ‘The Lizard’, and was co-financed by BBC Films and BFI (National Lottery Funded). Match Factory was responsible for worldwide sales. Mubi owns all rights in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Türkiye.
Alongside the ongoing festival run, “My Father’s Shadow” was released by FilmOne in Nigeria on September 19 and was a critical and commercial success, and is currently playing in Nigerian theaters. US and UK release is scheduled for February 6, 2026, after limited qualifying in the US
The Oscar international feature film shortlist will be announced on December 16th, with the five finalists announced on January 22nd.
