Award-winning director Akinola Davies Jr. makes his feature debut with My Father’s Shadow, set to arrive in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 6 February 2026, distributed by MUBI. This highly anticipated film has already garnered significant international acclaim, including the Best Director Prize at the 2025 British Independent Film Awards and a Special Mention from the Awards Jury at the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section. It also stands as the United Kingdom’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
My Father’s Shadow is a semi-autobiographical drama unfolding over a single day in Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. The film follows a father, played by Sope Dìrísù (noted for roles in Slow Horses and Gangs of London), who is estranged from his two young sons. As they navigate the sprawling metropolis, political turmoil threatens to upend their journey home. Through the eyes of a child, the story captures a moment of profound uncertainty and transformation, where the personal and the political are deeply intertwined.
The cast features Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù in a standout performance that earned him the Outstanding Lead Performance award at the 2025 Gotham Awards. The film also introduces Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo, whose portrayals bring an authentic sense of vulnerability and resilience to the screen. My Father’s Shadow is written by Wale Davies and co-written by Akinola Davies Jr., who was recently recognized in the BAFTA Breakthrough cohort, further cementing his reputation as an emerging voice in contemporary cinema. The film’s visual narrative is shaped by cinematographer Jermaine Edwards, whose lens evokes both the intimacy of family and the sweeping unrest of the historical moment.
Integral to the film’s identity is its official artwork, hand-painted by renowned Ghanaian artist Daniel Anum Jasper, professionally known as D.A. Jasper. Jasper is celebrated for pioneering the iconic hand-painted movie posters that defined Ghanaian visual culture from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. His approach to the My Father’s Shadow poster was deeply personal and emotional. Jasper describes the process: “Painting this for My Father’s Shadow was a wonderful and emotional process. I worked from an image that I then translated into my canvas with my oils, hoping that I could express all of the emotion from the film into something that intersects photography, a story, and fine art. From a shadow from my brush strokes to the final details and colours, we hoped to create something that could be both shown in an art gallery and in a movie theatre.” The result is a striking piece that bridges the worlds of cinema and fine art, capturing the film’s emotional depth and cultural resonance.
D.A. Jasper’s background is as compelling as his work. Born in 1966 in coastal Ghana, Jasper began his artistic journey at 13, apprenticing with painter Emmanuel Okai. After a brief stint in the textile industry, he established his own sign-writing workshop in Teshie, a suburb of Accra, in 1988. Jasper’s contributions to Ghanaian art include not only movie posters but also traditional figurative coffins and vibrant public signage, making him a significant figure in West African visual culture.
My Father’s Shadow stands as a powerful exploration of family, identity, and political upheaval, offering audiences a glimpse into a pivotal moment in Nigerian history through the lens of personal experience. The film’s combination of evocative storytelling, award-winning performances, and distinctive visual artistry positions it as a must-see release for 2026. International release dates are to follow.
