“My Father’s Shadow” Opens in Nigerian Cinemas on September 19

After captivating audiences abroad, My Father’s Shadow is set to premiere in cinemas across Nigeria on September 19, 2025.

Directed by Akinola Davies Jr. and co-written with Wale Davies, the film will be distributed locally by FilmOne.

Set in 1993 against the tense backdrop of Nigeria’s annulled presidential election, the story tracks two brothers as they spend a pivotal day in Lagos trying to reconnect with their estranged father. Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù leads the cast as Folarin, while the brothers are portrayed by real-life siblings Godwin Chiemerie Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo.

The supporting ensemble includes Ayo Lijadu, Greg “Teddy Bear” Ojefua, Uzoamaka Power, Winifred Efon, and Olarotimi Fakunle.

The film has already gained international attention, debuting in the Un Certain Regard section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it became the first Nigerian feature selected for the official Cannes lineup and earned a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or for best first feature. Its African premiere followed at the Durban International Film Festival in July 2025, cementing its reputation as a standout Nigerian drama on the festival circuit.

Produced by Funmbi Ogunbanwo’s Fatherland Productions with a predominantly Nigerian crew, the project also involved Element Pictures and received development support from BBC Film and the British Film Institute.

The film will later have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, with MUBI handling international distribution across North America, the U.K., Ireland, and Turkey.

My Father’s Shadow arrives at a moment of growing global recognition for Nollywood, offering Nigerian audiences the chance to experience a film that has already impressed critics and festival juries worldwide.