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Nigeria's 'My Father's Shadow' Shines at Cannes Debut

2/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

My Father's Shadow, directed by Akinola Davies Jr., debuted at Cannes as the first Nigerian film selected for the festival.
It has 12 nominations from the British Independent Film Awards.
The film tells Davies and his brother Wale, who lost their father as toddlers, and imagines a day with him amid Nigeria's 1993 turmoil.
Davies calls the project a deeply personal tribute to their father, blending grief with art.

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Story summary

My Father's Shadow, directed by Akinola Davies Jr., debuted at Cannes as the first Nigerian film selected for the festival.
It has 12 nominations from the British Independent Film Awards.
The film tells Davies and his brother Wale, who lost their father as toddlers, and imagines a day with him amid Nigeria's 1993 turmoil.
Davies calls the project a deeply personal tribute to their father, blending grief with art.