For those who have followed the journey from the beginning, this win feels like a full-circle moment. Back in November, Screennolly reported on the film’s historic momentum after it was selected as the United Kingdom’s official submission for the Academy Awards. Now, it has secured one of Britain’s highest film honours — in a category specifically celebrating bold new voices.
Davies Jr., who co-wrote the film with his brother Wale Davies, has consistently centred diaspora identity, memory, and fatherhood in his storytelling. In his BAFTA acceptance speech, he reportedly dedicated the award to immigrant parents and families whose sacrifices shape generations — a theme that runs deeply through the film.
The story follows two young brothers navigating Lagos against the tense backdrop of Nigeria’s 1993 election crisis. Intimate, emotional and visually striking, the film blends political history with personal memory in a way that has resonated strongly with international audiences.
Before the BAFTAs, the film — which also stars homegrown Nollywood actors such as Uzoamaka Power (With Difficulty Comes Ease), Efon Wini (God Knows Best), Tosin Adeyemi (House of Ga’a), and Yetunde Coker — had already made waves at the Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered to critical acclaim and earned a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or. It quickly became one of the most talked-about first features of the year, praised for its authenticity and quiet emotional power.
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| Director, Akinola Davies, dedicates award to immigrant parents and families whose sacrifices shape generations |
This BAFTA win is more than just another trophy. It signals growing recognition for stories rooted in African experience but told through a global lens. For Nigerian cinema — and especially for filmmakers operating between Lagos and London — it’s another reminder that our stories travel, and they land.
From Cannes to the Oscars conversation, and now a BAFTA victory, My Father’s Shadow has firmly positioned itself as one of the defining diaspora films of its generation. Nigerian stories are not just travelling — they’re winning. And this moment belongs to all of us.
- Jimi D Baldheaded Guy