Nollywood has achieved a historic milestone with the selection of My Father’s Shadow for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. This marks the first time a Nigerian feature film has been included in the festival’s official selection in its 78-year history .
Directed by Akinola Davies Jr. and co-written with his brother Wale Davies, My Father’s Shadow is set in Lagos during the aftermath of the 1993 Nigerian presidential election. The film follows two young brothers who spend a day with their estranged father, exploring themes of family, identity, and political unrest. British-Nigerian actor Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù leads the cast, with production support from Element Pictures, Fatherland Productions, BBC Film, and the British Film Institute .
The film will premiere in the “Un Certain Regard” section at Cannes, a category that highlights innovative and daring works from emerging filmmakers . This selection underscores the growing global recognition of Nigerian cinema.
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In response to the film’s selection, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, praised the achievement as a landmark moment for Nigerian storytelling, emphasizing the richness of the country’s cultural narratives and artistic talent .
The 2025 Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to run from May 13 to 24 in Cannes, France .
