The National Film Academy has announced the official nominations for the 12th Annual National Film Awards UK, with Nigerian talents earning significant recognition across multiple categories which will be held on July 1, in London.
Among the standout nominees is My Father’s Shadow by Akinola Davies Jr., which secured a nomination for Best Feature Film 2026 alongside titles such as The Magic Faraway Tree, Wasteman, The Thursday Murder Club, and Past Life. The film is also nominated for Best Independent Film and Best International Film, highlighting its global impact.
On the other hand, British- Nigerian actor Nonso Anozie was nominated for Best Supporting Actor 2026, competing against Stephen Graham, Andrew Garfield, Art Malik, Paul Mescal, Ben Kingsley, Tim Roth, Alex Hassell, and Adam Deacon.
In the Best Director category, both Olive Nwosu (Lady) and Akinola Davies Jr. (My Father’s Shadow) are nominated alongside international heavyweights including Brian Cox, Chloé Zhao, Antoine Fuqua, and Chris Columbus. Lady also earned nominations for Best Action in a Film/TV Series and Best British Film 2026.
Sophie Okonedo has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series 2026 for her role in Slow Horses Season 5, joining a competitive field that includes Zoe Wanamaker, Katie Leung, Amaka Okafor, and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Emerging talent is also in the spotlight, with the Egbo Brothers — Godwin and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo nominated for Best Newcomer 2026 for their brilliant performance in My Father’s Shadow while Jessica Gabriel’s Ujah (Lady) is nominated for Outstanding Performance 2026, competing alongside Idris Elba, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Riz Ahmed.
In addition, Jollof and Kimchi, a UK/South Korea/Nigeria collaboration, was nominated for Best Vertical Series 2026, reflecting the growing influence of Nigerian creatives in cross-cultural projects.
These nominations mark a strong presence for Nigerian filmmakers, actors, and others with ancestral relationship with Nigeria on the international stage, with My Father’s Shadow and Lady leading the charge across multiple categories.
