Streaming platform MUBI has released an official trailer for Akinola Davies Jr.’s debut feature “My Father’s Shadow,” a Cannes award-winner and the United Kingdom’s submission for the international feature Oscar, ahead of a February 6, 2026 theatrical rollout in the U.K., Ireland and other territories. The trailer frames a focused family story against a turning point in Nigerian politics.
Unfolding over one day in Lagos during the 1993 presidential election crisis, the film follows an estranged father who spends rare time with his two young sons as soldiers in the streets and rumours of a stolen vote press in. A voice in the trailer warns, “Everything is sacrifice. You just have to pray you don’t sacrifice the wrong thing,” signalling a drama built on difficult choices and fragile trust.
Davies, a British-Nigerian artist and filmmaker, draws on his own family history for the semi-autobiographical script he co-wrote with his brother Wale Davies. The feature premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard strand in May, becoming the first Nigerian title selected for the festival’s Official Selection and earning a Special Mention from the Caméra d’Or jury.
Since Cannes, “My Father’s Shadow” has gained momentum on the awards circuit. It secured Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards, then went to the Gotham Awards in New York, where Davies took Breakthrough Director and star Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù won Outstanding Lead Performance.
The U.K. submission for the international feature Oscar reflects the confidence domestic industry figures have placed in the film, which has backing from outfits including BBC Film and the BFI. The drama already opened in Nigerian cinemas in September, giving local audiences an early look at a story rooted in recent political upheaval while MUBI prepares an international rollout.
MUBI’s campaign now pairs the trailer with hand-painted key art by Ghanaian poster artist D.A. Jasper, drawing on West African popular art traditions to promote a story of fathers, sons and contested histories across Lagos. The distributor is also lining up releases across North America and Europe.
Also Read
Festival coverage has praised Dìrísù and young newcomers Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo, while some writers argue that scenes explaining the 1993 election risk feeling didactic for viewers already familiar with the history. The trailer leans on texture and mood, with images of the trio moving through crowded streets and back roads hinting at a film that holds audiences inside one fraught day.
