Davies Brothers' 'My Father's Shadow' Wins Historic BAFTA After Global Festival Run
Wale and Akinola Davies have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by securing the first-ever BAFTA win for their film My Father's Shadow. The award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards was presented at London's Royal Festival Hall by acclaimed actor Ethan Hawke. This victory represents not a sudden surprise but the culmination of an extraordinary international journey that began over a year earlier.
Award Ceremony Dedications and Messages
During the emotional acceptance speech, Wale Davies dedicated the award to his late father, Akinola Davies Sr., and to his daughter, whom he described as the love of his life. Akinola Davies Jr. followed with thanks to fellow nominees, collaborators, and supporters who helped bring the project from concept to screen. He extended the dedication to migrants and people facing genocide worldwide, urging audiences to "archive your loved ones. Archive your stories yesterday, today, and forever. For Nigeria, for London, the Congo, Sudan, free Palestine."
Beyond the personal significance, the BAFTA win serves as professional validation for the filmmakers, marking the latest achievement in a remarkable series of successes that has positioned the film as one of the most celebrated Nigerian-linked productions of its generation.
International Festival Success Leading to BAFTA
The film's award season journey began in May 2025 when My Father's Shadow made history as the first Nigerian film selected for the Cannes Film Festival's Official Selection in the Un Certain Regard section. The prestigious festival awarded the production a Caméra d'Or Special Distinction, establishing Akinola Davies Jr. as one of the most promising new directors emerging from the UK-Nigeria creative corridor.
Following Cannes, the film continued its international circuit with a North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 before opening in Nigerian cinemas later that same month. In November, it screened in competition at the International Film Festival of India, where it won the Silver Peacock Special Jury Award.
The accolades multiplied as the film collected a British Independent Film Award and two Gotham Independent Film Awards, including Breakthrough Director for Davies Jr. It also received an impressive twelve nominations at the BIFAs, demonstrating broad industry support. Although selected as the United Kingdom's official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, it did not secure an Oscar nomination. Nevertheless, the submission itself signaled significant institutional confidence in the film's global appeal and artistic merit.
Film's Narrative and Critical Reception
Set in Lagos during 1993 against the backdrop of Nigeria's historic and ultimately annulled presidential election, My Father's Shadow follows two young brothers who spend a single day navigating the city with their estranged father. While political uncertainty hums persistently in the background, the emotional core revolves around a family attempting to bridge emotional distance within a limited timeframe.
The casting of real-life brothers Godwin and Chibuike Egbo as the siblings resulted in performances that critics described as unforced and grounded in subtle, authentic gestures. Sope Dirisu delivers a commanding portrayal of the father, skillfully balancing authority with vulnerability as his character's world gradually unravels.
Critical response has been overwhelmingly positive, with the film maintaining a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews consistently praise its ability to weave political tension with deeply personal storytelling. This delicate balance has resonated strongly with award bodies internationally. Though the story remains specific to Nigeria in 1993, its universal themes of fatherhood, loss, boyhood, and disillusionment have connected with global audiences.
Creative Development and Production Background
Akinola Davies Jr. directed the film from a script he co-wrote with his brother Wale Davies. The concept developed over more than a decade, inspired by the loss of their father during their youth. Wale wrote the initial draft in 2012, focusing on two brothers experiencing a pivotal day with their father during a defining political moment.
"It was the first piece of writing that I sent to my brother, and then we discussed fleshing it out and developing it into a feature length film. My writing process is very specific – I need to be completely detached from everything to be able to write properly, and to be able to put myself fully into the writing," explained Wale Davies.
Produced by Element Pictures in association with Crybaby and Fatherland Productions, the film was developed by BBC Film and co-financed by the BFI. Funmbi Ogunbanwo produced for Fatherland Productions, a studio increasingly associated with stories that celebrate Nigerian identity and heritage. At the BAFTA ceremony, Akinola publicly acknowledged Wale's role not merely as co-writer but as a steady presence throughout the creative process, referring to him as his "father figure."
My Father's Shadow has navigated global institutions while maintaining firm connection to its origins, consistently celebrating its Nigerian roots at every opportunity. For Nigerian audiences who first experienced the film in local cinemas, the BAFTA win represents international confirmation of what was already evident domestically. What began as a personal act of remembrance has transformed into one of the most decorated Nigerian-linked films of its generation.
