Akinola Davies Jr.’s acclaimed debut feature, My Father’s Shadow, is set to make its global streaming debut on Netflix on September 21, 2026, bringing one of the most decorated Nigerian films of recent years to audiences worldwide.
The film, which stars British-Nigerian actor Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, has enjoyed a remarkable journey since its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it became the first Nigerian film ever selected for the festival’s Official Selection and won a Caméra d’Or Special Mention. It went on to win the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, swept the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards with wins for Best Overall Movie, Best Director, and Best Writing, and earned the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director.
Distributed theatrically by FilmOne Entertainment, the film crossed the $1 million mark in global box-office receipts across Nigeria, the UK, and international markets, a rare financial milestone for a first-time independent feature.
A Semi-Autobiographical Tale Set Against a Historic Backdrop
Co-written by Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother Wale Davies, My Father’s Shadow is an intimate period drama set against the tense backdrop of Lagos during the June 12, 1993 presidential election crisis. The story follows two young brothers, Remi and Akin, who leave their rural home to accompany their estranged father, Folarin, into the heart of Lagos as he tries to collect his long-overdue salary. Shot on textured 16mm film, the movie captures the vibrant, chaotic pulse of 1993 Lagos through the innocent eyes of children navigating family secrets, political uncertainty, and urban life.
The film stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù alongside real-life brothers Godwin Chiemerie Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo. It features an atmospheric score composed by Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra.
The Netflix release brings one of the most critically acclaimed Nigerian films in recent history to a global audience, underscoring the growing international reach of Nigerian cinema.
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