By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has made history at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival with My Father’s Shadow becoming the first Nigerian film in its official selection.

The film, which premieres in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section, is produced by Rachel Dargavel of Element Pictures and Fumnbi Ogunbanwo for Lagos-based Fatherland Prods.

It was directed by Akinola Davies Jr, who also co-wrote with his brother, Wale ‘Tec’ Davies of the Show Dem Camp rap duo. The brothers also served as executive producers.

Held every May in the city of Cannes, France, the Cannes Film Festival is the world’s most prestigious film event, bringing together top filmmakers, actors, and industry professionals to celebrate cinematic excellence. Since its inception in 1946, the festival has become a global stage for premiering groundbreaking films.

My Father’s Shadow is a semi-autobiographical film featuring Gangs of London star Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and is set in Lagos during the June 1993 election annulment.

The film follows a father and his two estranged sons as they travel across the chaotic metropolis while political unrest threatens their homeward journey.

Dìrísù plays Folarin, a hard-luck breadwinner trying to provide for his family, and breakout talents Chibuike Marvellous Egbo and Godwin Egbo as his two young boys – Remi and Akin.

The film begins on a pivotal June day in 1993, as Nigeria is eagerly awaiting the results of its first democratic election since the military coup that brought General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to power. The unofficial results suggest a victory for the opposition, leading millions of Nigerians to hope, which is slogan of Moshood Abiola, who is widely believed to have won the election.

On that fateful day, Folarin embarks on a journey to collect several months’ of owed salary from his employer in Lagos. With his wife out of town, he begrudgingly allows his sons to tag along, not knowing that the country is on the brink of an electoral crisis.

The story is based on the Davies family and is composed in the form of a letter to their late father (who Folarin is based on) with Wale Davies writing the script more than ten years ago, with touches and input from his director brother in critical stages over the years.

Wale Davies says My Father’s Shadow is also a tribute to Lagos, a city whose daily life, often resembles a movie set.

Everything looks like a film,” he says, “I could look on my street — there’s just always something exciting happening.”

The brothers had collaborated on the short film Lizard, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and was nominated for a BAFTA.

Mubi, which acquired the film ahead of its Cannes debut, is planning a theatrical release in North America and the United Kingdom. The Match Factory is handling international sales, with a possible Nigerian cinema release anticipated.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The African Union (AU), in collaboration with the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), has announced Lagos, Nigeria, as the host city for the 2025 edition of the music awards.

The announcement was made at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the Head of Culture at the African Union, Ms Angela Martins.

The awards ceremony, along with side events, including the vibrant Music Village Festival, is scheduled to take place from November 25 to 30, 2025.

Ms Martins describes this year’s theme, “Unstoppable Africa,” and the choice of Lagos as its host, as a reflection of the vibrancy, brilliance, and dream of modern African music, which the city represents.

“Music is not merely sound, it is a strategy. From Dar es Salaam to Acrra and other parts of the world, music flows like a river through our culture, and it connects, heals, and moves us forward,” Martins said, explaining the AU’s enduring partnership with AFRIMA.

The AFRIMA 2025 calendar starts with a call for entries on May 20, inviting submissions from African artists across the continent and the diaspora.

Artists can submit works across various categories and genres as part of this celebration of musical excellence, an initiative aligned with the AU’s Agenda 2063, which champions culture as a driver of development in Africa.

AFRIMA has served as a powerful platform for cultural exchange and continental integration.

AFRIMA’s President, Mr Mike Dada, reiterated this mission, saying that AFRIMA is a rallying point to further integrate the continent.

“This is to ensure we have an enduring platform called AFRIMA to be used as a rallying platform to integrate the continent, for peace, job creation, and for telling our own stories,” Mr Dada said.

The road to AFRIMA 2025 will also include events in other African countries, including Morocco, Tanzania, and Côte d’Ivoire, and will also make stops in London, UK, and Paris in France.

Last month, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared the state’s readiness to host Africa and the world for the 2025 edition of the AFRIMA.

Speaking when he received a high-powered delegation from the African Union and the AFRIMA International Committee in his office, Mr Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos’ acceptance to host AFRIMA 2025 aligned with his administration’s vision to make the creative and tourism industry a major pillar of the state’s development drive.

The governor said, “One of the key pillars of our administration’s development agenda is the creative industry. Since I took office, we’ve been intentional about building a vibrant creative ecosystem supporting film, music, fashion, photography, and cultural tourism.

“We are happy to receive the AFRIMA team; we will do it, and we will be part of this. This is one initiative we are proud to accommodate. Our team will work together with your team to action this. We thank the African Union and the AFRIMA Committee for trusting Lagos.”

As part of the buildup to the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), Africa Magic and MultiChoice hosted Young Filmmakers’ Day, an inspiring platform designed to mentor and celebrate the next generation of African storytellers. Held in Lagos on Thursday, 8th of May, the event gathered budding filmmakers, MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) alumni, and industry stakeholders for a day of learning, collaboration, and community.

This year’s edition focused on “Sound in Filmmaking,” a masterclass facilitated by Shawn Butler, an acclaimed sound engineer and producer whose portfolio spans award-winning African and international productions.

“Sound is more than just pushing a button; it’s about shaping emotion and enhancing storytelling,” Butler said. “The way a character breathes, the silence between words, the soundscape of a scene, all of that influences how audiences connect with the story. I wanted to help these creatives start listening like storytellers, not just technicians.”

The session explored practical mic techniques, on-set professionalism, post-production workflows, and the critical role of audio in shaping cinematic meaning. Butler also emphasized collaboration across departments:

“You can’t isolate sound from story. Working closely with directors, DPs, and editors ensures the audio landscape supports the emotional arc of the film.”

The day began with a short film by the most recent MTF cohort, showcasing their creativity and growth during the year-long training programme. In her welcome remarks, Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa at MultiChoice, underscored the broader mission behind the event.

“Young Filmmakers’ Day is more than tick-boxing,” Tejumola said. “It’s about transferring lived experience. You can learn in a classroom, but real wisdom often comes from direct mentorship and shared challenges. That’s what today is about, reminding young creatives that every element, especially sound, contributes to powerful storytelling.”

Ten early registrants received complimentary goody bags, while a lively movie soundtrack trivia challenge saw two lucky guests win tickets to the AMVCA Awards Night.

A standout moment was the introduction of FilmMaker Mart, a new creative production company founded by MTF alumni Eric Kafui Okyerefo, Chioma Paul-Dike, Victor Awotidebe, and Igho Arusi. The company was introduced by their marketing manager, Oluwaseun Lawal, and is a testament to the MTF’s impact in empowering alumni to build sustainable careers in the film industry.

Young Filmmakers’ Day was one of several key industry events leading up to the AMVCA 2025 finale. It followed the vibrant Cultural Night held on Friday, May 9, and preceded the star-studded AMVCA Awards Night on Saturday, May 10, which aired live across Africa on Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv from 4:00 PM WAT (Red Carpet) and 7:00 PM WAT (Main Show).

The MultiChoice Talent Factory continues to be a beacon for African creatives, championing skill development, mentorship, and innovation in storytelling across the continent.