Directed by Akinola Davies Jr., the history-making film ends its theatrical run as it becomes the United Kingdom’s official Oscar submission.
“My Father’s Shadow” Named UK Official Oscar Selection
My Father’s Shadow, the feature debut from Akinola Davies Jr., has been selected as the United Kingdom’s official Oscar submission for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards, making it the first Nigerian story to receive the honor.
The announcement comes just days after the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) announced it would not submit any film for this year’s Oscar race.
The film, a co-production between Mubi, Element Pictures, and Fatherland Productions, made history earlier this year when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival as Nigeria’s first film to screen in the Un Certain Regard competition. It went on to earn a Special Jury Mention.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the director wrote: “To all Nigerians who watched it in theatres, thank you. As the first country in the world to show the film widely in cinemas, our theatrical run served as the qualifying run for this submission.”
The film stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, alongside Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo. Set over the course of a single day, it follows two young boys who journey with their estranged father from a rural Nigerian village to Lagos during the 1993 election crisis — a period marked by social unrest and political uncertainty.
Shot in Lagos and Ibadan in Yoruba, Naija Pidgin, and English, My Father’s Shadow was written by Wale Davies and co-written by Akinola Davies Jr. The pair previously collaborated on the Sundance-winning short film Lizard, which earned the Grand Jury Prize in 2021 and later received a BAFTA nomination for Best British Short Film.
Developed by BBC Film through Crybaby and co-financed by BBC Film and the BFI with National Lottery funding, the production was helmed by Element Pictures, with Funmbi Ogunbanwo overseeing production. Mubi holds distribution rights across North America, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and Spain.
Released in Nigeria by FilmOne on September 19, My Father’s Shadow concluded its theatrical run on October 16. The U.S. and U.K. releases are scheduled for February 6, 2026, following a limited qualifying run in the United States.
The Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature will be announced on December 16, while the final five nominees will be revealed on January 22, 2026.