Biography
Akinola Davies Jr. is a British-Nigerian filmmaker, writer, and visual artist whose work has emerged as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary African and international cinema. Raised between London and Lagos, Davies began his career directing acclaimed fashion films, commercials, and music videos for global brands including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Moncler, Kenzo, Mulberry, and Acne Studios before transitioning into narrative filmmaking. He first gained major attention with the BBC short-form series Black to Life (2019) and achieved international breakthrough success with the short film Lizard, a semi-autobiographical story set in Lagos that won the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Short Film in 2021 and earned a nomination for Best British Short Film at the BAFTA Awards. The film also screened at major festivals including the BFI London Film Festival and Raindance, establishing Davies as a filmmaker to watch.
Davies reached a new career milestone with his feature directorial debut, My Father’s Shadow, which he co-wrote with his brother, Wale Davies. The semi-autobiographical drama made history in 2025 as the first Nigerian film ever selected for the official lineup of the Cannes Film Festival, premiering in the Un Certain Regard section and earning a Caméra d’Or Special Mention. Starring Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, the film received widespread critical acclaim for its intimate exploration of family, masculinity, memory, and political unrest in 1990s Nigeria. The achievement marked a landmark moment for Nigerian cinema on the global stage.
The success of My Father’s Shadow propelled Davies into the international awards conversation throughout 2025 and 2026. The film led the British Independent Film Awards nominations and earned Davies the BIFA Award for Best Director, while also winning him the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director. In February 2026, Davies received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, further cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting emerging filmmakers working today. The film was also selected as the United Kingdom’s submission for the Academy Awards’ International Feature Film race and continued its festival run with honors at major international events.
As of today, Akinola Davies Jr. stands at the forefront of a new generation of African storytellers, recognized for blending personal memory with larger social and political narratives. Following the global success of My Father’s Shadow, his profile has risen significantly across the film industry, with critics and audiences praising his visual style, emotional storytelling, and commitment to expanding the international reach of Nigerian cinema. With a Sundance Grand Jury Prize, a BAFTA Award, a Gotham Award, a British Independent Film Award, and a historic Cannes breakthrough already to his name, Davies has established himself as one of the most influential emerging writer-directors of his generation.