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Cannes 2025: Nollywood Basks in Spotlight as Nigerian Film Finally Makes the Cut
- Nigeria's first film to compete at Cannes, Akinola Davies's My Father's Shadow, will screen Sunday, marking a historic moment nearly 80 years after Nollywood's start.
- This milestone reflects Nollywood's rise from its reputation for low-budget dramas to gaining recognition through films like Shine Your Eyes and prizes at Sundance.
- Nollywood produces up to five films daily in Lagos, focusing on themes like love, poverty, religion, and often mixing supernatural or traditional conflicts, though struggles remain to reach global audiences.
- Industry leader Mo Abudu emphasized the need for proactive action rather than relying on others, as tax incentives advance through parliament and local streaming platforms launch, signaling growth despite obstacles such as limited mobile network infrastructure.
- The Cannes selection and increasing international penetration via streaming suggest Nollywood is evolving into a significant cultural force with potential for expanded global influence.
82 Articles
82 Articles
‘My Father’s Shadow’ marks a historic first for Nigeria in Cannes
CANNES, France (AP) — Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother Wale were both toddlers when their father died. Many years later, they began thinking about an idea for movie: What if they had gotten to spend a day with him?In “My Father’s Shadow,” which is playing in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section, the Davies brothers pay tribute to the father they hardly knew in a shattering father-son tale and one of the clear standouts of the f…
Cannes 2025: Nollywood basks in spotlight as Nigerian film finally makes the cut
The Cannes screening of “My Father’s Shadow” by director Akinola Davies Jr marks a milestone for Nigeria’s frantically prolific film industry, nicknamed Nollywood, which is counting on the French Riviera festival showcase to scale new heights on the international stage.
Daily News-Record
Cannes standout 'My Father's Shadow' marks a historic first for Nigeria
Akinola Davies Jr.' s “My Father’s Shadow” is making history in Cannes as the first Nigerian film in Cannes’ official selection. Akinola and his brother Wale were both toddlers when their father died. Many years later, they began thinking about…
‘My Father’s Shadow’ Review: First Nigerian Film Selected For Competition Is A Moving Universal Story Of Fathers And Sons – Cannes Film Festival
It would be a historic and special moment just simply for the fact that Akinola Davies Jr.’s debut feature, My Father’s Shadow, is the first film from Nigeria to be selected to play in the Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered Sunday in Un Certain Regard. That’s a big deal, but the fact that it is also one of the most moving and universally relevant and emotional films of any in this year’s fest makes its presence here especially powerful. On…
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