‘My Father’s Shadow’ Trailer – UK Oscar Entry and Akinola Davies Jr’s Family Drama Unfolds in 1990s Nigeria

Set in the streets of 1990s Lagos, My Father’s Shadow stars Sope Dirisu as Folarin – an estranged father, and introduces real-life brothers Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo as his two young sons.

Their reunion unfolds against the backdrop of the 1993 Nigerian presidential election, a day meant to be normal, but one turned extraordinary by political unrest.

Directed by Akinola Davies Jr, making his feature length film directorial debut, and based on the screenplay by his brother Wale Davies, My Father’s Shadow premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, making history as the first ever Nigerian feature to be selected for Cannes’ official lineup – and winning a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or.

Following Cannes, the film made its North American premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It was also selected as the UK’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.

MUBI will release the film in US theaters on in theaters on February 6, 2026.

Here is the synopsis: A semi-autobiographical tale set over the course of a single day in the Nigerian metropolis Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. The story follows a father, estranged from his two young sons, as they travel through the massive city while political unrest threatens their journey home.

In an interview with Cannes Film Festival, Akinola Davies Jr. has spoken about how this film is deeply personal, saying “I wanted it to be in service to my family, to our memories, as something that can be a cathartic time capsule for the past, present and future. To encapsulate and honor our imagination as not being outside of us but as part of our memory. I think my brother is a fantastic screenwriter and I wanted to work with him, bringing his ideas to life.”

Critics reactions to My Father’s Shadow have been overwhelmingly positive, with Observer calling the film a ‘powerful work of memory and political fragility’ and ‘stunning semi-autobiographical feature debut.’

Watch the official trailer for My Father’s Shadow above.