My Father’s Shadow Set to Arrive on Netflix After Acclaimed International Run
🇳🇬🎬 Akinola Davies Jr.’s acclaimed Nigerian-British drama My Father’s Shadow is heading to Netflix on September 21, marking another major chapter in the journey of one of the most internationally recognised Nigerian films of recent years.
The film has travelled an impressive path since its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it made history as the first Nigerian film selected for the festival’s Official Selection. It screened in the Un Certain Regard section and earned a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or, immediately putting Akinola Davies Jr. and his debut feature on the international cinema map.
Now, after its festival appearances, theatrical release and growing international audience, My Father’s Shadow is preparing to reach an even wider audience through Netflix, giving viewers across different parts of the world an opportunity to experience its deeply personal story.
A Story Rooted in Lagos and Family
Set in Lagos during Nigeria’s turbulent 1993 election crisis, My Father’s Shadow follows two young brothers, Akin and Remi, who spend an unexpected day with their estranged father, Folarin, played by British-Nigerian actor Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù.
What begins as a journey through Lagos gradually becomes an emotional exploration of family, separation, memory and grief. As the brothers move through the city with their father, they encounter a Lagos shaped by political tension, uncertainty and everyday struggles.
The film places the personal story of one family alongside a defining period in Nigeria’s history. The political atmosphere is not simply a backdrop; it becomes part of the tension surrounding the family’s journey and the brothers’ understanding of their father and the world around them.
The story is semi-autobiographical and was inspired by the experiences of Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother, Wale Davies, who co-wrote the screenplay. The film draws on their relationship with their late father and imagines the opportunity to spend one more meaningful day with him.
Capturing 1993 Lagos
One of the film’s defining features is the way it presents Lagos through the eyes of its young characters.
Rather than telling the story solely through major political events, My Father’s Shadow focuses on the ordinary experiences of a family moving through an extraordinary period. The brothers encounter the energy, unpredictability and complexity of Lagos as they travel through the city with their father.
The film was shot on 16mm film, giving its images a distinctive texture that complements the nostalgic setting. The visual style helps recreate the atmosphere of 1990s Lagos while keeping the emotional focus firmly on the characters and their relationships.
The result is a film that connects Nigeria’s history with a very intimate family story, allowing audiences to experience the political uncertainty of the period through the eyes of children.
From Cannes to Global Recognition
The Cannes premiere was only the beginning of the film’s international journey.
My Father’s Shadow went on to attract attention at festivals and awards ceremonies, strengthening its reputation beyond Nigeria. The film’s international recognition included a BAFTA win for Outstanding British Debut, while Akinola Davies Jr. also received recognition for his direction at other major awards events.
The film also became the UK’s submission for the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, further highlighting the level of international attention surrounding the project.
Its journey has been particularly significant because My Father’s Shadow is a deeply Nigerian story that has managed to connect with audiences and institutions beyond the country.
Major Success at the 2026 AMVCAs
The film’s success continued at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, where it emerged as one of the ceremony’s biggest winners.
My Father’s Shadow took home several major awards, including Best Overall Movie, Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr., Best Writing in a Movie for Wale Davies, Best Music Score and Best Sound Design.
The recognition further cemented the film’s place within the Nigerian film industry while highlighting the work of the wider creative team behind the production.
For Akinola Davies Jr., the awards marked another major milestone in what has become an extraordinary journey for a feature-film debut.
A New Audience on Netflix
The September 21 Netflix release is expected to introduce My Father’s Shadow to viewers who may not have had the opportunity to watch it during its theatrical or festival run.
Streaming will also make the film more accessible to Nigerian audiences and viewers across the African diaspora who may connect with its themes of family, identity, memory and home.
The film’s journey from Lagos to Cannes, through international cinemas and awards ceremonies, and now onto a major global streaming platform reflects the growing international reach of Nigerian filmmaking.
More importantly, My Father’s Shadow offers audiences an opportunity to revisit a significant moment in Nigeria’s history through a deeply personal lens.
Rather than presenting the 1993 political crisis simply as a historical event, the film explores how national uncertainty can affect ordinary people and families. At its heart is a story about two children trying to understand their father, while unknowingly moving through one of the most politically uncertain periods in modern Nigerian history.
September 21 Netflix Release
With its Netflix debut scheduled for September 21, My Father’s Shadow is entering another stage of its remarkable journey.
From its Cannes premiere and international festival run to its Nigerian theatrical release and multiple award wins, the film has continued to draw attention to Nigerian stories and filmmakers on the global stage.
For audiences who have followed the film since Cannes, the Netflix release provides another opportunity to revisit Akinola Davies Jr.’s debut. For those discovering it for the first time, it offers a chance to experience a story where family memories, childhood, Lagos and Nigeria’s political history come together.
🎬 On September 21, My Father’s Shadow arrives on Netflix — bringing its story of family, memory, grief and 1993 Lagos to an even wider audience.
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