My Father’s Shadow

A semi-autobiographical tale set over the course of a single day in the Nigerian metropolis Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. The story follows a father, estranged from his two young sons, as they travel through the massive city while political unrest threatens their journey home.

Akinola Davies is a BAFTA-nominated and Sundance Award-winning filmmaker, and a Somerset House artist-in-residence; his work spans nations to explore themes of community, race, spirituality, identity and gender, telling stories that bridge the gap between generations and communities.
His narrative short film LIZARD premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, followed by the BFI London Film Festival. LIZARD was nominated for the BAFTA for Best British Short Film in 2021, having also won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and the Blackstar Film Festival Short Film Award.
Akinola was selected for the Berlinale Talents 2020 Collective and was named one of Screen Daily’s ‘Stars of Tomorrow’.
Akinola has become a go-to creative in the fashion industry, working with brands such as Gucci, Acne Studios, COS, Moncler, Kenzo, Mulberry, Louis Vuitton on multiple creative projects, in front of, and behind, the camera. Alongside his work in narrative film and fashion, Akinola has directed music videos for artists including Neneh Cherry, Kae Tempest and Blood Orange.

Selected director’s filmography
2023 Kokoroko - RAPT (Music Video)
2020 LIZARD
2020 Untitled
2019 Black To Life: Rethinking The Black Presence Within British History
2018 Zazzau - mounting up with the riders of Northern Nigeria