A Nigerian-United Kingdom co-production, My Father’s Shadow emerged as the biggest winner at the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), sweeping five major categories at the star-studded ceremony held on Saturday night at Eko Hotels & Suites.
The critically acclaimed drama took home the coveted Best Movie award and was also honoured for Best Director, Best Writing in a Movie, Best Score/Music, and Best Sound/Sound Design, projecting its status as the standout production of the night.
Produced by Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel, the film’s success marks a significant moment for a personal story that merges family relationships with Nigeria’s political history.
The film’s victories included:
Best Movie — Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Rachel Dargavel Best Director — Akinola Davies Jr. Best Writing in a Movie — Wale Davies Best Score/Music — Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra Best Sound/Sound Design — Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra
Its clean sweep highlighted the film’s artistic strength and technical excellence, enabling it to triumph over several high-profile productions, including Gingerrr, The Herd, 3 Cold Dishes, The Serpent’s Gift and Behind the Scenes.
Directed by Akinola Davies Jr. in his feature-film debut and co-written with his brother Wale Davies, My Father’s Shadow is a semi-autobiographical drama set in Lagos during the political unrest surrounding Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election.
The film unfolds over the course of a single day and follows two young brothers as they reconnect with their estranged father while navigating the bustling city.
Through this intimate journey, the story explores themes of fatherhood, identity, memory, grief and national uncertainty.
Sọpẹ́ Dìrísù delivers the lead performance as Folarin, alongside real-life brothers Godwin Chiemerie Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo, who portray the two children at the centre of the story.
Before its AMVCA sweep, My Father’s Shadow has received praise for its storytelling, realistic portrayal of 1990s Lagos, stunning cinematography, and strong performances. After premiering on the international festival circuit, the film gained attention.
The film earned several international awards and recognitions between 2025 and 2026. It won Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards and received a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
At the 2025 Gotham Independent Film Awards, Akinola Davies Jr. won Breakthrough Director, while Sope Dirisu won Outstanding Lead Performance. The film also won Best Director at the 2025 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
It further received a Special Mention in the Gold Hugo category at the 2025 Chicago International Film Festival and won Best Director at the 2025 Pingyao International Film Festival.
The film also made history in 2025 as the first Nigerian film selected for the Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival.
While My Father’s Shadow dominated the evening, several other productions and performers were also celebrated.
Uzor Arukwe won Best Lead Actor for Colours of Fire, while Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman had a historic night, winning both Best Lead Actress for The Serpent’s Gift and Best Supporting Actress for The Herd.
Bucci Franklin received Best Supporting Actor for To Kill a Monkey, and Uche Montana was presented with the Trailblazer Award.
Veteran stars Sola Sobowale and Kanayo O. Kanayo were honoured with the Industry Merit Award in recognition of their decades-long contributions to African cinema.