In 2021, Nigerian-British filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr’s Lizard won the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Now, his first feature, My Father’s Shadow, has been by acquired by Mubi. The company will handle North America, the UK, Ireland, and Turkey. Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, popularly known from Gangs of London, will play the upcoming film’s lead role.
My Father’s Shadow is the story of Remi and Akin, brothers who spend a day with their estranged father, Folarin, in Lagos, Nigeria. As they navigate the city’s vastness for the first time, they witness the challenges their father faces in providing for them. The film is set in 1993, taking into account the controversial Nigerian election of that year.
Production on the film wrapped in Nigeria last year, with the collaborative efforts of BBC Film, the BFI, Element Pictures, Crybaby, and Fatherland Productions.
“Bringing My Father’s Shadow to life in my home country, a story which is so personal to me and my brother Wale, who wrote the script, but one that I also hope will resonate with many, has been beyond a dream,” Davies Jr said. “Working with the powerhouse that is Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, who brought such magic to his character and has taken the script to a whole new level, has been an incredible experience.”
He added: “All of which has been made possible through the unwavering support of Eva Yates at BBC Film, Ama Ampadu at the BFI and my producers Rachel Dargavel at Element Pictures and Funmbi Ogunbanwo at Fatherland Productions. I’m excited to share with you the part of my home and the city I grew up in that is rarely seen on screen.”
