My Father’s Shadow Gains Global Momentum — Meet Akinola Davies, Named Among The BAFTA Breakthrough 2025 Cohort

Akinola Davies

A quiet, emotionally raw film has just made a very loud statement.

My Father’s Shadow, the Lagos-set drama that has been steadily collecting international attention, has now secured a standout win with its director, Akinola Davies, named among the BAFTA Breakthrough 2025 cohort — a signal that the global film establishment is paying close attention to his voice, vision and storytelling discipline.

Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s turbulent 1993 election period, the film explores the fragile relationship between two young boys and their distant father, mapping grief, masculinity and memory with poetic restraint. It’s not a loud film — and that’s exactly where its power lies. Every frame whispers, but the echo travels.

A Director the World Is Now Watching

For African audiences, Akinola Davies is a name to remember. Long admired for his visually sensitive short-form work and collaborations across fashion, music and art film, My Father’s Shadow marks his most defining leap into narrative cinema — and the industry has responded.

The BAFTA Breakthrough recognition places him alongside a new wave of global creatives seen as future-defining voices in film. It is less about hype and more about trajectory — the type of recognition that starts conversations in production offices, not just on red carpets.

A Film That Moves With Intent

What makes My Father’s Shadow stand out isn’t spectacle — it’s atmosphere. The film leans into stillness, silence, pauses, and unspoken emotions, creating a slow-burning intimacy that feels both Nigerian and universally human. Critics have described it as “subtle, piercing and heartbreakingly restrained” — a story that trusts its audience to feel rather than be instructed.

Why This Matters to Africa

This moment is bigger than one director or one film. It is a reminder that African cinema is increasingly being recognised not just for its scale, but for its craft. Films that choose nuance over noise are beginning to command global stages, and Akinola Davies now stands at the centre of that shift.

From Lagos streets to BAFTA’s global radar, My Father’s Shadow proves that sometimes, the softest stories carry the sharpest impact.

And this one?It’s only the beginning.