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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Akinola Davies Jr: Nigerian Cinema Can Do What Afrobeats Has Done

From ThisDay · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Director Akinola Davies Jr.'s film 'My Father's Shadow' achieved significant international recognition.
  • The film was the first Nigerian production selected for official competition at Cannes and earned five awards at the AMVCA 2026.
  • It was submitted as the UK's entry for the Academy Awards due to its primary UK financing and co-production.

Akinola Davies Jr.'s directorial debut, 'My Father's Shadow,' has garnered substantial international acclaim, marking a significant milestone for Nigerian cinema. The film's journey saw it become the first Nigerian production officially selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival. It later swept five awards at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) 2026 and was chosen as the UK's official entry for the Academy Awards.

Shot primarily on film stock in Lagos's mainland, the production embraced a deliberate pace, allowing for meticulous decision-making across all departments. Davies Jr. emphasized treating crew members as artists, providing ample time, resources, and overtime pay. Extensive rehearsals and dedicated space for costume, sound, and production design contributed to the film's substantial feel, exceeding its budget limitations due to cost-effective production in Nigeria.

We were at the bottom of every prediction in every category. So I realistically was just happy to be nominated alongside incredible filmmakers in Nigeria.

— Akinola Davies Jr.Reflecting on the film's unexpected success at the AMVCA awards after being predicted to lose.

The most challenging sequence involved creating a whale on the beach, a complex blend of practical effects and CGI, with limited visual references available. Despite facing predictions that placed 'My Father's Shadow' last in every nominated AMVCA category, the film defied expectations by winning five awards. Davies Jr. expressed deep emotion upon collecting these awards during the film's Lagos re-release, consistently crediting the entire Nigerian-based crew.

The decision to submit 'My Father's Shadow' as the UK's entry for the Oscars, rather than Nigeria's, generated considerable discussion. Davies Jr. explained that the film's primary financing originated from the UK, with an Irish co-production partner. He felt it would be disingenuous to ignore these key supporters once the film gained traction. Although a Nigerian submission was initially anticipated, BAFTA actively campaigned for the film's inclusion as a UK entry. This process provided the filmmaking team invaluable insights into navigating the complexities of Academy Award submissions and campaigns.

We had almost no useful visual references.

— Akinola Davies Jr.Describing the challenges of creating the whale sequence for 'My Father's Shadow'.
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Originally published by ThisDay. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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