Filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow emerged as the biggest winner at the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards held on Saturday night in Lagos, beating several Nollywood titles that had dominated conversations ahead of the ceremony.
Before the awards night, films such as The Herd, Gingerrr and To Kill A Monkey were widely tipped by viewers online. However, My Father’s Shadow, a deeply personal drama directed by Davies Jr., secured five awards including the night’s top prize for Best Movie.
The film also won Best Director for Davies Jr., Best Writing in a Movie for Wale Davies, Best Score/Music for Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra, as well as Best Sound Design for Pius Fatoke and Mirra.
Set during Nigeria’s 1993 election crisis, the film follows two young brothers, Akin and Remi, who spend a life changing day in Lagos with their estranged father, Folarin.
The screenplay, written by Akinola and Wale Davies, drew inspiration from their own experiences after losing their father at a young age. Shot on 16mm film by cinematographer Jermaine Edwards, the movie presented Lagos with a textured visual style that stood out from many contemporary Nollywood productions.
Its sound design and music score, both recognised at the AMVCA, also contributed heavily to the emotional atmosphere of the film.
Long before its AMVCA success, My Father’s Shadow had already gained international recognition. In 2025, it became the first Nigerian film selected for the official lineup of the Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered in the Un Certain Regard section.
The film later received a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or at Cannes, further raising its international profile.
Following Cannes, the movie continued its run across global festivals and award platforms, earning recognition at the British Independent Film Awards, BAFTA Awards and the International Film Festival of India. Davies Jr. won Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards, while Dìrísù also received international praise for his performance.
The film was also selected as the United Kingdom’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, although it did not secure a nomination.
