Akinola Davies Jr Wins Silver Peacock - Special Jury Award for ‘My Father’s Shadow’
Jury Lauds the Excellent Screenplay and Superb Performances
A Film that Explores the Complex Bond with Family Amidst Political Turmoil
#IFFIWood, 28 November 2025
Akinola Davies Jr has been conferred with the Special Jury Award at the 56th International Film Festival of India for his powerful and evocative film ‘My Father’s Shadow,’ from the UK and Nigeria. The film stood out among the 15 titles in IFFI’s international competition, earning recognition for its outstanding cinematic craft and the director’s distinctive artistic vision. The award was presented by CM Goa, Shri. Pramod Sawant and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Dr. L. Murugan in the presence of Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, IFFI Jury Chairperson Shri. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra and Festival Director Shri. Shekhar Kapur.
The IFFI Special Jury Award, officially known as the Silver Peacock – Special Jury Award, is presented to a film that the Jury believes demonstrates exceptional excellence in any aspect of filmmaking. This prestigious accolade is bestowed upon the Director and carries a Silver Peacock, a cash prize of Rs. 15,00,000, and a Certificate.
The Jury remarked, " Against the backdrop of the chaotic 1993 Presidential election in Nigeria, where the indomitable human spirit stood up against the violent suppression, Folarin takes his two young sons to Lagos to collect a delayed salary. An excellent screenplay and superb performances from desperate father and confused, at times frightened boys, capture themes of love, parenting, absence and reconciliation. Intimate moments and small gestures are at the heart of this film’s warm embrace.”
By recognising ‘My Father’s Shadow,’ IFFI celebrates a remarkable work of global storytelling and the creative strength of filmmakers pushing the boundaries of contemporary cinema.
Synopsis of My Father’s Shadow
A semi-autobiographical tale set over the course of a single day in the Nigerian capital Lagos during the 1993 Presidential election. The film follows two young brothers, Akin and Remi, as they spend a day with their estranged father Folarin, during their travel through the chaotic city to collect a delayed salary. Through intimate moments and small gestures, the film explores the complex bond with the family amidst political turmoil. It realistically capture themes of love, absence and reconciliation.
PC Link of My Father’s Shadow
About IFFI
Born in 1952, the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) stands tall as South Asia’s oldest and largest celebration of cinema. Jointly hosted by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), State Government of Goa, the festival has grown into a global cinematic powerhouse—where restored classics meet bold experiments, and legendary maestros share space with fearless first-timers. What makes IFFI truly sparkle is its electric mix—international competitions, cultural showcases, masterclasses, tributes, and the high-energy WAVES Film Bazaar, where ideas, deals and collaborations take flight. Staged against Goa’s stunning coastal backdrop from November 20–28, the 56th edition promises a dazzling spectrum of languages, genres, innovations, and voices—an immersive celebration of India’s creative brilliance on the world stage.
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