The decision to return My Father’s Shadow to cinemas just days before Democracy Day adds another layer of historical resonance to a story already deeply preoccupied with memory, nationhood, and inherited silence.
By Joseph Jonathan
My Father’s Shadow is set to return to Nigerian cinemas on June 5 for a limited theatrical run, following renewed audience interest sparked by its multiple wins at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
Distributed once again by FilmOne Entertainment, the re-release comes months after the film’s initial September 2025 rollout across 16 Nigerian states, a release many viewers either missed entirely or only discovered later through its growing international reputation and awards success.
Directed by Akinola Davies Jr., the Nigeria-United Kingdom co-production emerged as one of the biggest winners at the AMVCAs, taking home awards for Best Movie, Best Director, Best Writing in a Movie, Best Score/Music, and Best Sound Design. The wins reignited conversations around the film online, with many audiences asking where and how they could finally watch a film that had already become one of the most acclaimed Nigerian titles of the past year.
Set against the political unrest surrounding Nigeria’s June 12, 1993 election crisis, My Father’s Shadow follows two brothers, played by Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo, as they spend a tense day in Lagos with their estranged father, portrayed by Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù. The decision to return the film to cinemas just days before Democracy Day adds another layer of historical resonance to a story already deeply preoccupied with memory, nationhood, and inherited silence.
The re-release campaign will also feature archival materials, behind-the-scenes content, merchandise, and cultural events tied to the film. Afrocritik had earlier shared an exclusive behind-the-scenes video released by Fatherland Productions, offering viewers a closer look at the making of the film and the collaborative process behind one of the most important Nigerian productions of recent years. The video is available to watch on Afrocritik’s YouTube channel.
Making history as the first Nigerian film to screen in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival, My Father’s Shadow premiered in the Un Certain Regard section in 2025, where it received the Caméra d’Or Special Mention for Best First Feature. Since then, the film has continued an impressive international run, becoming the United Kingdom’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, while also earning Davies Jr. Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards and a British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) win for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. Afrocritik also named the film one of its 30 Remarkable African Feature Films of 2025.
Producer Funmbi Ogunbanwo and writer Wale Davies noted that the timing of the re-release ahead of June 12 offers audiences an opportunity to collectively revisit questions of history, remembrance, and national consciousness through cinema.
Since its Cannes debut, My Father’s Shadow has screened at major international festivals and received recognition from the Gotham Independent Film Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and the London Critics Circle Film Awards, further cementing its position as one of the defining African films of the decade so far.