My Father's Shadow

We invite you to join us for a special screening of My Father’s Shadow directed by Akinola Davies Jr. The BAFTA-winning film and recipient of Cannes’ Caméra d’Or Special Mention follows two boys on an adventure with their father through the streets of Lagos. The day-long adventure amidst the pressures of the 1993 Nigerian election crisis offers them an intimate glimpse into their father’s inner world. Through a tender and refreshing lens, My Father’s Shadow tackles an age-old story of the home and inheritance, offering a take that adequately complicates the family drama genre. As Davies’ debut feature, this film echoes the quiet, haunting tone of his 2020 short film Lizard, once again exploring tangled family relationships through the vivid lens of childhood and the unique sense of wonder that only children possess.

Akojo Film Collective is proud to present My Father’s Shadow as our first film of the year, launching African Cinema Now! into a new year of vibrant programming at the VIFF Centre. The screening sets the tone for our upcoming installment, A Familial Matter, a dedicated showcase of African films shaping key conversations that speak to a new global filmic relationship to cinema from Africa.

The event will feature a short presentation by Akojo Film Collective on African cinema trends reflected through our collective’s work and research so far.

We look forward to welcoming you to the collective learning experience that continues to be African Cinema Now!

Free admission to all self-identifying members of the Black community. To claim, enter the promo code VFC26ACNFREE in the “Discounts” box at the end of check-out.

Virtual talk with director Akinola Davies Jr.

It’s that sharp contrast of beauty with an undercurrent of pain that makes “My Father’s Shadow” so bittersweet, and it’s why it cuts to the quick… This memory needed to become a movie.

Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times

This is an enchanting film. At every moment, one feels spellbound by its earnest aims and its heartwarming excursions.

Robert Daniels, rogerebert.com

A rich, heartfelt and rewarding movie.

Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Co-Presented by

We The Roses is a culture-first creative agency and foundation rooted in New York City and Vancouver — creating place-based experiences and cultural content that expand how art and culture are expressed, shared, and remembered. They bring their work to life in collaboration with partners including Google Arts & Culture, Carnegie Hall, and National Black Theatre among others.