First Look at “My Father’s Shadow” Debuts

After much buzz around being the first Nigerian film to feature at the famed Cannes film festival, Akintola Davies Jr.’s semi-autobiographical film, “My Father’s Shadow,” has given fans a short visual taste of what’s been cooked.

A newly released two-minute first-look clip introduces us to Folarin, played by Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, sharing a tender moment at home with his two young sons, Akin and Remi—portrayed by real-life brothers Godwin and Chibuike Egbo—as they gear up for what promises to be an eventful trip through Lagos.

The teaser debuted just a day before it was to premiere at Cannes in Un Certain Regard (May 18, 2025). With the review embargo lifted, it’s been showers of blessings on Davies Jr. and his story about a father and his sons navigating the chaos of Lagos in the political upheaval following the 1993 presidential election.

Critics praise the focus on father-son bonding in a time of national unrest, the breakout performances of the Egbo brothers, and Davies Jr.’s touch in his first feature film.

Co-written by the director and his brother Wale Davies, “My Father’s Shadow” draws from their own personal experiences, weaving in elements of Yoruba, Pidgin, and familiar Nigerian urban settings.