My Father’s Shadow is a quietly poetic debut that reflects on how love and absence shape memory. Set in Lagos during Nigeria’s pivotal 1993 election, it follows two young brothers, Akin and Remi, who spend the day with their estranged father, Folarin, travelling through the city to recover unpaid wages.

The film moves fluidly through busy streets, crowded buses and intimate silences, pausing for the small gestures that define connection — a shared meal, a glance, the pace of a walk. The political atmosphere of the day is ever-present, yet the story’s focus remains on the delicate interplay between parent and child.

Featuring real-life brothers Godwin Chimerie Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo alongside Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, My Father’s Shadow premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard, earning Nigeria its first selection in the section and a Special Mention from the Caméra d’Or jury. Akinola Davies Jr, winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for his short Lizard, brings a truthful, deeply felt sensibility to a story of personal and political crossroads.