Nigerian film ‘My father’s shadow’ makes historic debut at Cannes Festival

…Minister Musawa hails achievement for Nigerian cinema

For the first time in nearly 80 years, a Nigerian film has earned a coveted spot at the Cannes Film Festival, with Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow set to compete in the festival’s 2025 edition. The film, announced on Thursday by festival organizers, is slated to screen in the esteemed Un Certain Regard category between May 13 and 24, 2025.

Set in Lagos in the aftermath of the pivotal 1993 presidential election, My Father’s Shadow is directed by Akinola Davies Jr. and produced by Fatherland Productions, led by Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Wale Davies. The film was selected from over 2,900 feature film entries for the 2025 festival lineup.

Reacting to the historic selection, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, congratulated the filmmaker and his team, describing the achievement as a landmark moment for Nigerian storytelling on the global stage.

“This momentous achievement is not only a personal milestone for Akinola Davies and the remarkable team at Fatherland Productions, but also a landmark moment for Nigerian cinema,” Musawa said. “My Father’s Shadow stands as a powerful testament to what is possible when homegrown talent is nurtured, empowered, and given the space to shine.”

She emphasized that the film, driven by a predominantly Nigerian cast and crew, showcases the richness of Nigerian stories and the country’s cultural identity. The Minister also applauded Fatherland Productions for their consistent dedication to African storytelling, which has previously earned them recognition from BAFTA and the Sundance Film Festival.

“As we prepare to support My Father’s Shadow and its creators at Cannes through Screen Nigeria—our national platform for promoting Nigeria’s audiovisual industry—we are reminded of the importance of initiatives like Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere,” Musawa added.

She noted that the initiative is part of a broader soft power strategy aimed at exporting Nigerian creative products and elevating voices like those of Akinola, Funmbi, and Wale on the world stage.

The Ministry is also expected to launch the Screen Nigeria platform officially at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, as part of the Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere campaign. The platform is designed to spotlight Nigeria’s growing audiovisual sector and its wealth of creative talent.