AMVCA 12: How ‘My Father’s Shadow’ outshone Nollywood blockbusters

Long before the winners were announced at the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards on Saturday night in Lagos, films like “The Herd,” “Gingerrr,” “To Kill A Monkey,” and several commercially successful Nollywood titles had dominated conversations online. Many of the films arrived at the ceremony with strong fan bases, impressive streaming numbers, viral moments, and massive box office performances. But by the end of the night, one film quietly overshadowed the rest. “My Father’s Shadow,” a deeply personal and emotionally layered drama directed by Akinola Davies Jr., emerged as the biggest winner of the 2026 AMVCA, securing five awards including the night’s highest honour, Best Movie. The film also won Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr., Best Writing in a Movie for Wale Davies, Best Score/Music for Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra, as well as Best Sound Design for Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra. Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s turbulent 1993 election crisis, “My Father’s Shadow” follows two young brothers, Akin and Remi, who unexpectedly spend a transformative day in Lagos with their estranged father, Folarin. Played by British-Nigerian actor Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Folarin is portrayed as a deeply flawed but emotionally complex man attempting to reconnect with his children while navigating financial struggles, political instability, family tension and personal regret. Throughout the film, the audience watches the brothers encounter different sides of Lagos, crowded buses, roadside food spots, beaches, military checkpoints and moments of chaos, while gradually discovering truths about their father and themselves. What initially appears to be a simple family reunion slowly unfolds into a moving meditation on masculinity, memory, brotherhood, grief and generational trauma. The film’s emotional weight becomes even stronger in its final moments when the children eventually lose their father, forcing audiences to reflect on absence, family and the fragile nature of reconciliation. Rather than treating the 1993 election annulment as background decoration, the film uses the political tension of the period to shape the emotional atmosphere of the story. Military presence, uncertainty, fear and instability become part of the characters’ lived experiences, creating a powerful portrait of Nigeria during one of its most defining historical moments. The screenplay, co-written by Akinola Davies Jr. and his brother Wale Davies, was largely inspired by their own experiences growing up after losing their father at a young age. Shot on 16mm film by cinematographer Jermaine Edwards, the movie captured Lagos with a textured, almost nostalgic visual style rarely seen in contemporary Nollywood productions. The grainy aesthetic, combined with muted tones and careful framing, gave the film a timeless quality that strengthened its emotional atmosphere. Its sound design and music score, both of which earned AMVCA wins, also played major roles in building tension and emotional immersion throughout the film.