Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (His House, Gangs of London) is set to star in Akinola Davies Jr.’s feature directorial debut, My Father’s Shadow, with Mubi pre-buying all North American rights.
From Element Pictures production in association with Crybaby and Fatherland Productions, and based on a script by Wale Davies and Davies Jr., My Father’s Shadow follows Remi and Akin, two kid brothers who spend a gift of a day with their estranged father Folarin. They go on a voyage into Lagos observing the colossal city for the first time and the hoops their father must pass through in able to provide. All of this occurs against the backdrop of the 1993 presidential election result, which calls into question his ability to get Remi and Akin home.
“Bringing My Father’s Shadow to life in my home country, a story which is so personal to me and my brother Wale, who wrote the script, but one that I also hope will resonate with many, has been beyond a dream,” said Davies Jr.
“Working with the powerhouse that is Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, who brought such magic to his character and has taken the script to a whole new level, has been an incredible experience. All of which has been made possible through the unwavering support of Eva Yates at BBC Film, Ama Ampadu at the BFI and my producers Rachel Dargavel at Element Pictures and Funmbi Ogunbanwo at Fatherland Productions. I’m excited to share with you the part of my home and the city I grew up in that is rarely seen on screen.”
My Father’s Shadow was developed by BBC Film and co-financed by BBC Film and the BFI. The Match Factory is handling worldwide sales. MUBI pre-bought all rights in North America, the U.K., Ireland, and Turkey. The distributor’s theatrical plans will be announced for North America and the U.K. and Ireland in the coming months.
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