My Father’s Shadow is a 2025 Nigerian/UK drama film directed by Akinola Davies Jr. and co-written by him and Wale Davies. It stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Godwin Egbo, and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo. The story follows two young brothers who spend a day with their estranged father in Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian presidential election crisis. Together, the experience both the city’s magnitude and their father’s daily struggles as political unrest threatens their journey home.
Movie Title: My Father’s Shadow
Year of Release: 2025
Date of Release: February 6, 2026 (U.S)
- May 2025 – World Premiere (Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard)
- September 19, 2025 – Nigeria (theatrical)
- February 6, 2026 – International rollout (U.S./UK limited release)
Director: Akinola Davies
Writers: Akinola Davies, Wale Davies
Producers: Rachel Dargavel, Funmbi Ogunbanwo
Production Companies: BBC Film, British Film Institute (BFI), Crybaby Films, Element Films, Fatherland Productions
Distributor: Madman Entertainment, Madman Films, FilmOne Distribution, MUBI
Cast and Roles:
- Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù as Folarin
- Godwin Egbo as Akin
- Chibuike Marvellous Egbo as Remi
- Efon Wini as Bola
- Tosin Adeyemi as Aunty Seyi
- Adesina McCoy Babalola as Gbemi
Running Time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Age Rating: PG
Country: United Kingdom, Nigeria, Ireland
Language: English, Yoruba
Genres: Drama, Family
Music: Duval Timothy, CJ Mirra
Cinematography: Jermaine Canute Bradley Edwards
Editing: Omar Guzmán Castro
Note:
During the tense hours of Nigeria’s 1993 election crisis, brothers Akin and Remi reunite with their largely absent father, Folarin, for what seems like an ordinary day in Lagos. As protests erupt and uncertainty grips the city, the trio moves through crowded streets, offices, and public spaces. What unfolds is not just a portrait of a nation on the brink, but a study of fatherhood, childhood, and the fragile connections formed in moments that can never be repeated.
