BAFTAs: Nigerian Brothers Win Outstanding Debut Award

British-Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother Wale Davies have won the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer prize at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards.

The brothers received the award for their film My Father’s Shadow at the 79th edition of the ceremony held on February 22 at the Royal Festival Hall in London

My Father’s Shadow, written and directed by Akinola Davies Jr. and co-written and produced by Wale Davies, tells the story of a father and his two sons navigating life in Lagos during Nigeria’s tense 1993 election crisis, blending family drama with political history

Before its BAFTA success, the film had already made history after being selected for the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Nigerian production to earn that distinction

In his acceptance remarks, Akinola Davies Jr. dedicated the award to people whose stories are often overlooked, including immigrant families and those affected by conflict and displacement

The win marks another milestone for Nigerian storytelling on the global stage, highlighting the country’s growing recognition in international cinema

Source: The Sun Nigeria