A few months ago, I wrote about the chances of the acclaimed historical drama My Father’s Shadow finally earning Nigeria its first nomination for ‘Best International Feature Film’ at the Oscars. Well, it looks like Nigeria will have to keep waiting as My Father’s Shadow has been selected as the U.K.’s official submission for the category instead.
My Father’s Shadow, the debut feature from British-Nigerian director Akinola Davies Jr., made history earlier this year as the first Nigerian feature screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where it earned rave reviews and a special mention from the jury.
Set against the tense backdrop of the 1993 Nigerian elections and filmed entirely in Lagos and Ibadan, My Father’s Shadow follows a day in the life of two brothers (played by newcomers Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo) as they travel with their estranged father (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) from a small village to Lagos.
Who is behind the film?
The film was written by Wale Davies (one half of the beloved rap duo Show Dem Camp) and co-written by Akinola Davies Jr., marking their second collaboration after Lizard (2020), which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2021 and earned a BAFTA nomination for ‘Best British Short Film.’
Produced by U.K.-based Element Pictures (in association with Crybaby and Fatherland Productions), My Father’s Shadow brings together a creative team that bridges British and Nigerian cinema.
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Producers include Funmbi Ogunbanwo for Fatherland Productions, with Dìrísù, Wale Davies, and Akinola Davies Jr. also serving as executive producers.
In a statement, the filmmaking team said:
“We are so proud to be telling this Nigerian story and to sit alongside others in the international feature category that curate local to global stories, creating a diversity of storytelling that thrives through the power of collaboration.”
What are the film’s Oscar chances now?
In my earlier analysis of the film’s Oscar prospects, I noted that none of Nigeria’s four previous submissions — Lionheart (2019), The Milkmaid (2020), Mami Wata (2023), and Mai Martaba (2024) — were able to make it onto the 15-film shortlist that precedes the nominations.
By contrast, the U.K. has received three nominations from 22 submissions in this category, even winning its first Oscar two years ago for the German historical drama, The Zone of Interest (2023). That track record significantly boosts My Father’s Shadow’s chances of making the cut.
While the film is yet to premiere in the U.K., it continues to show in Nigerian cinemas, where it was released by Film One to critical and commercial success. It topped the Nigerian box office on its opening weekend in September and drew praise from moviegoers for its stunning cinematography and thoughtful writing.
The Oscar shortlist for ‘Best International Feature Film’ will be announced on December 16, followed by the final five nominees on January 22.
If you’re an average moviegoer, you probably only think about the Oscars when nominations are announced. But for me, who has religiously followed the award show since Gladiator won ‘Best Picture’ in 2000, it’s a year-round event. That’s why I’m doing this too-early evaluation of Nigeria’s chances of making it into next year’s ‘Best International Feature Film’ lineup.
Since 2019, Nigeria has submitted four films for Oscar consideration in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category, but none have made it to the 15-film shortlist that precedes the nominations. However, with My Father’s Shadow, directed by the gifted Akinola Davies Jr., my hopes for that changing are higher than ever.
A still from My Father’s Shadow
My excitement comes with some bias: My Father’s Shadow easily tops my list of most anticipated films of 2025 (the director’s 2020 short film Lizard is excellent). But a few Oscar pundits seem to share my optimism, with Next Best Picture, a trusted awards season forecaster, highlighting the film’s prospects in two categories: ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and ‘Best International Feature Film.’
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What makes My Father’s Shadow Oscar-ready?
Recently premiering as the first Nigerian feature film screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, a reliable springboard for Oscar hopefuls, My Father’s Shadow already has the kind of history-making buzz that keeps films in the conversation.
Set against the tense backdrop of the 1993 Nigerian elections, and filmed entirely in Lagos and Ibadan, My Father’s Shadow tells a deeply personal story of two brothers (played by newcomers, Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo) navigating a complicated relationship with their estranged father (played by a stellar Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù)
Dan Bayer, an Oscar pundit and writer for Next Best Picture, gave the film an 8 in his review, calling it a “triumph.” Commenting on its Oscar chances, he told Zikoko, “I think My Father’s Shadow is certainly good enough to contend for a nomination, especially with Mubi distributing it.”
Bayer’s biggest concern is about the movie, which primarily features dialogue in Yoruba, Pidgin, and English, meeting the Academy’s requirement that more than 50% of its spoken dialogue be in languages other than English. “Based on the general reception from Cannes and how well it played when I saw it, my gut instinct says it’s in if it meets the language requirements,” he concluded.
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What needs to happen next?
With global distribution already secured through Mubi — the distributors of 2024’s Oscar darling, The Substance — My Father’s Shadow is well-positioned to get a proper campaign push if chosen as Nigeria’s official submission by the Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee (NOSC).
This is one of many hurdles the film will face, though, as this process has historically sparked drama and debate within Nigeria’s film community. Past choices have been controversial, with critics arguing about which films best represent Nigerian cinema to an international audience.
There has also been internal drama within the committee. For the 2022 Oscars, the NOSC reviewed three Yoruba-language films — Aníkúlápó, Elesin Oba, and King of Thieves — only to have a majority (8 of 15) vote that ‘no film is eligible.’ This led to resignations, committee backlash, and an Academy-granted revote, which ended up yielding the exact same result.
A still from Mami Wata, Nigeria’s 2023 submission for the Oscars.
So far, Nigeria has only submitted four films for the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category at the Oscars.
The Milkmaid (2020): Hausa-language drama directed by Desmond Ovbiagele; submitted but didn’t make the shortlist.
Mami Wata (2023): Directed by C.J. Obasi in Pidgin English; submitted but didn’t make the shortlist.
Mai Martaba (2024): Hausa-language film directed by Prince Daniel Aboki; submitted but didn’t make the shortlist.
This year, My Father’s Shadow feels like a no-brainer pick, given its critical acclaim and international attention. If chosen, I think it stands a real chance of finally ending the streak and putting Nigeria on the Oscars stage, further opening doors for Nigerian cinema.
How can you watch My Father’s Shadow in Nigeria?
Ahead of its Cannes premiere, Mubi acquired global distribution rights to My Father’s Shadow, securing releases in North America, the UK, Ireland, and Turkey. However, there’s still no word on when it will release in Nigeria.
Given Mubi’s footprint in over 190 countries, including Nigeria, an expansion of rights to local streaming or cinemas remains a strong possibility, but it is still pending official announcement.
In its 96-year existence, the Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, has established itself as one of the highest awards for artistic and technical excellence in global film and television.
In recent years, some big Nollywood players, such as Funke Akindele, Jade Osiberu, Kunle Afolayan, Daniel K. Daniel and Blessing Egbe, have been invited by the academy to become voting members.
As we near the 2025 Oscars, which will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, here’s a complete list of all Nigerians and individuals of Nigerian descent who have ever been nominated for an Oscar (None have won yet).
Oscar fact: If Cynthia Erivo wins Best Actress for her performance as Elphaba in the movie musical Wicked, she will be the first Nigerian to EGOT (win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony).
Best Supporting Actress (2005) – Hotel Rwanda (Cate Blanchett won for The Aviator)
Oscar fact: Though she didn’t win an Oscar for Hotel Rwanda, Sophie Okonedo won a British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) for the same performance. She is also the first Nigerian woman to have been nominated for an Oscar.
Best Male Actor in a Leading Role (2014) – 12 Years A Slave (Matthew McConaughey won for Dallas Buyers Club)
Oscar fact: Chiwetel Ejiofor won a British Academy Television Awards (BAFTA) for the same role, beating out Leonardo Dicaprio for Wolf of Wall Street and Tom Hanks for Captain Phillips.
Best Original Song (2023) – “Lift Me Up” (“Naatu Naatu” from the movie RRR won)
Oscar fact: “Lift Me Up” earned Tems, born Temilade Openiyi, her first Oscar nomination. She was nominated alongside Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, and Rihanna, who performed the song for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
Best Live Action Short Film (2023) – The After (Wes Anderson and Steven Rales won for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar)
Oscar fact:The After is Misan Harriman’s debut film as writer-director. The British-Nigerian is best known for his work as a photographer, becoming the first black man to shoot a cover of British Vogue in the magazine’s 104-year history
Nigerian Movies Submitted for the ‘Best International Feature Film’ Oscar
Director:Genevieve Nnaji Synopsis: Adaeze (Genevieve Nnaji), a business-savvy young woman steps in to help her father’s struggling bus company. As she works to save the business and prove herself, she discovers her own strength and resilience.
Status: Disqualified
Oscar fact: In 2019, Lionheart became Nigeria’s first submission for the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. However, it was disqualified because the majority of the film’s dialogue was in English, not an indigenous Nigerian language. The year after the disqualification, the Academy chose to start accepting films in Pidgin-English.
Director:Desmond Ovbiagele Synopsis: The film follows Aisha (Anthonieta Kalunta), a young Fulani milkmaid who lives in rural Nigeria. When her sister (Maryam Booth) is kidnapped by insurgents, Aisha sets out on a dangerous mission to rescue her. This moving film sheds light on the experiences of women living in conflict zones.
Status: Not nominated
Oscar fact: Written and produced by Desmond Ovbiagele, it was the first Hausa-language film submitted for the Oscar consideration.
Synopsis: This film is inspired by the ancient myth Mami Wata, a water spirit revered for her beauty and mystical powers. It blends fantasy, drama and cultural heritage to offer a fresh perspective on spirituality, identity and the struggle between tradition and modernity.
Status: Not nominated
Oscar fact: At the Sundance Film Festival, Mami Wata won the Special Jury Prize in the World Dramatic Competition for its cinematography, making it the first Nollywood film to win a major prize at the festival.
Synopsis: The story unfolds in an ancient kingdom that once thrived on a prosperous trans-Saharan trade. But everything comes crashing down after a brutal power struggle within the Agadashawa ruling clan. Female leadership, forbidden love, unchecked greed, political war, and betrayal — all play out in a world teetering on the edge of ruin.
Status: Not nominated
Oscar fact: After Mai Martaba didn’t make the list of nominated films for Best International Feature Film, critics cited a lack of campaign budget. Many films submitted in the category are typically advertised or elevated on platforms where Oscar voters might see them.
Nigerians Who Are Voting Members of the Academy Awards
As of February 2025, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has invited several Nigerian actors and filmmakers to join as voting members.
Andrew Dosunmu is a Nigerian photographer and filmmaker who’s known for his artistic visual style. He’s best known for his acclaimed drama, Mother of George.
Mo Abudu is a media mogul and founder of EbonyLife Media, a company that’s responsible for producing films like Oloture, The Wedding Party and The Royal Hibiscus Hotel.
Kunle Afolayan is a celebrated filmmaker, popularly known for his Anikulapo film and series, The Figurine and other films that defined the new age of Nollywood.
On June 28, 2023, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences extended invitations to 398 movie stars and executives who’ve “distinguished themselves by their contributions to motion pictures.”
Source: Oscars.com
Thanks to this invitation, five Nigerians have now joined Nollywood’s Ramsey Nouah, Newton Aduaka, Tunde Kelani, Funke Akindele, Mo Abudu, Daniel K. Daniel, Andrew Dosunmu, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Femi Odugbemi, Akin Omotoso and Genevieve Nnaji, as members of the Academy. Meet your Oscars’ class of 2023: the Nigerian league.
Kunle Afolayan
Source: Instagram (@kunleafolayan)
The thoroughbred movie producer ranks high as one of the coolest Nollywood movie makers of our time. Afolayan, through productions like October 1, The CEO, and most recently, Anikulapo, has redefined African cinema. His flair for telling authentic African stories have earned him global acclaim, with Anikulapo stirring the conversation for Nigeria’s Oscar win in 2023. Afolayan joins the academy under the writers category.
Jade Osiberu
Source: Instagram (@jadeosiberu)
Another leading force in Nigerian cinema, Osiberu’s work has redefined the face of Nollywood and given viewers seeking action-packed blockbusters a new experience. The Trade, Gangs of Lagos and Brotherhood shattered Nigerian box office records and topped the chart on movie streaming platforms. She joins the Academy in the producer category.
Richard Mofe Damijo
Source: Instagram (@mofedamijo)
With a career spanning over four decades, RMD has cemented his place as an icon in Nigerian cinema. There’s no touching the level of depth and versatility he brings to the screen. Whether he’s the hip father-in-law in Ebonylife’s The Wedding Party or a leading political figure in 2004 action-flick, Critical Assignment, he holds ground as a master of his craft. Of course, he joins the academy in the actors category.
CJ Obasi
Source: Instagram (@fierycj)
Currently enjoying a rousing ovation from the global community for Mami Wata, Obasi is a filmmaker on a mission to reshape Nigerian cinema. The director’s daring approach to storytelling in movies like Ojuju, Juju Stories and Hello, Rain has gained him critical acclaim in Nollywood. He joins the academy in the directors category.
Shola Dada
Source: Instagram (@sholadadamusic)
Shola Dada completes the list of Nigeria’s newly inducted Oscar Academy members, as she takes her place under the screenwriters category. Dada takes writing credit for Nollywood masterpieces, Anikulapo and Man of God.
What does the membership mean for them?
As members of the Academy, all five individuals will have automatic rights to vote for which film professionals and what films get nominated for the Oscars.
How were they selected?
Members who’ve been nominated for an Academy award are automatically considered for membership. Members who’ve never been nominated — including all the current Nigerian members — have to be sponsored by existing Academy members. Every year, the academy’s board of governors reviews the names submitted by sponsors and extends invitations to prospective members.
One thing about us, we love awards’ season. Oscar, Grammys, Emmys, yes, choke us with all of it. While Nigeria has movie awards, they’re still not giving what they’re supposed to be giving.. So we want to see these categories be added to Nigerian movie awards:
1. Most chaotic wig
In Nollywood, wigs are characters all on their own. Back in the day, we watched our faves show up in stiff-ass wigs that channelled everyone from Mufasa in Lion King to Storm in X-Men. With New Nollywood having a battle of the frontals and throwing 13-inch kinky Brazilian wigs on all their characters — even in movies set in the village — it’s only right that we have a category to recognize one of the most versatile and underrated performers in the industry, our wigs.
2. Best Ameritish Accent
Nollywood and accents you can’t trace or identify go hand-in-hand. Back then, Jim Iyke, Hanks Anuku and Regina Askia stressed us with their fake accents. But these days, almost every Nollywood actor has a VPN-acquired accent. Also, is it really a Nollywood film if the lead character didn’t just return from overseas to find love? We refuse to list out the contenders in this category, but they know themselves.
3. Best wedding/burial (or any celebration-type film that requires at least 20 popular actors)
Why did Nollywood discover ensemble comedies and decide that was “it”? Like, after The Wedding Party, it’s like they sent a WhatsApp broadcast and decided to compete to see how many stars they could fit into one film, no matter how chaotic the script or casting might look. A certain studio is known for packing actors in their films like Titus sardines and honestly, they deserve this award.
4. Best shot of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge
Shoutout to the hardest working actor in Nollywood mehn. Since we can’t nominate individuals, we’ve decided to go with the film that best captured his beauty in glorious HD.
5. Best Instagram/BBNaija influencer-to-actor transition
Nollywood has become the final bus stop for IG influencers and Big Brother Naija alumni. We’re not complaining o, before you drag us. Instead, we’re creating a category to honour the transitions that sort of worked.
6. Best soundtrack
We‘ve missed the days when Nollywood summarised the entire plot of a film using Stanley Okorie’s voice. It saved you the stress of deciding whether or not you actually wanted to see the film. Now, we have songs like “Nneka, obu gini?” from Nneka the Pretty Serpent as major contenders for this award. Don’t lie, that song is catchy AF!
7. Best plot-that-didn’t-even-make-sense
How did a script like Chief Daddy 2pass through a scriptwriter, producers, a director and a container of actors, and no one thought to say, “Ewww, God forbid!” We watch some films and convince ourselves that the people behind them must’ve had their loved ones kidnapped, with the film being a form of ransom payment. Because honestly, why this? That being said, everyone deserves their flowers — even films that give us headaches.
8. Best ghost
Nollywood ghosts are a case for the FBI. When they’re not crossing the street like Omotola in Blood Sisters, they’re walking around drenched in blood carrying crying babies. It’s all very stressful and they deserve a whole category award for all that hard work.
The most critically-acclaimed Academy Awards happened recently and some of the things that happened made us nearly fall off our chairs in shock and laughter. Here are some of the things that made the Oscars feel like a Nollywood movie script.
The host of the awards, Chris Rock began by throwing major shade at the organisers for the lack of diversity the categories had.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsTs-xNuBms
He came mercilessly for everybody.
He then proceeded to troll Will and Jada Smith for boycotting the Oscars.
He reminded us of Patience Ozokwor, the one and only revered queen of shade in Nollywood.
Only her can begin an opening scene launching missiles of shade on everybody.
After being snubbed four times, and pulling an Nkiru Sylvanus on the world with his role in The Revenant movie…
And being extremely pitiful…
Can you spot the difference between this man and Nkiru Sylvanus?
Leonardo Dicarprio finally won the Oscar he had been crying for.
YASS!
And just like how we sometimes expect to see Ramsey Nouah slay a nice movie and the directors choose to snub him and slap Emeka Ike on our faces instead…
Because one-syllable-at-a-time-speaking Emeka does it better than everybody else.
The Academy also chose to snub awesome nominated movies like The Martian and Star Wars and awarding movies like Spotlight and The Hateful Eight.
This Ela was unnecessary sha.
And the mother of plot twists, right after making this ridiculous statement….
This happened.
When you have to do the dance of shame in the market.
Not to forget, the dramatic wardrobe assemble.
Because stylish clothes are too mainstream.
When you have to be young and be someone’s old fairy god mother at the same time.
The lack of diversity is currently being addressed by the Academy. In the light of that, we look forward to when Nigerian and in general, African movies will make a big impact in the international scene.
