Leading contender for British independent film awards snags shadow of critically acclaimed dad
Akinola Davies Jr's Nigeria-set drama My Father's Shadow is the front-runner to take home top honors at this year's Bifas, earning a whopping 12 nominations in the process. Not far behind are Pillion and biopic I Swear, which snagged 10 and nine nods respectively.
My Father's Shadow premiered at Cannes with rave reviews, earning praise from The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw who described it as "a transparently personal project" that explores how two young boys glimpse their absent father's true life. Although the film has yet to hit UK theaters, its success in Nigeria is undeniable, with Davies making a strong directorial debut.
Meanwhile, Pillion – an English coming-of-age romance – has been garnering attention for its unique blend of humor and heartbreak. Critics lauded it as "intensely funny" at Cannes, likening it to Alan Bennett meets Tom of Finland. The film is set to release in the UK later this November, competing with My Father's Shadow for best British independent film.
I Swear, a biopic about Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson, has also secured a spot in the running, thanks to its strong lead performance from Robert Aramayo. However, it appears that Akinola Davies Jr's brother Wale is reaping the benefits of being part of the production, with best screenplay nods for his effort.
A new addition to this year's Bifas lineup is an award for cinema of the year – a public vote that promises to shake things up. The Depot in Lewes, Magic Lantern in Tywyn, Montrose Playhouse, Queen's Film Theatre in Belfast, and Watershed in Bristol round out the contenders, all vying for top honors on November 30th.
The stakes are high as winners prepare to be announced at London ceremony, but My Father's Shadow is currently leading the pack with an impressive array of nominations.
Akinola Davies Jr's Nigeria-set drama My Father's Shadow is the front-runner to take home top honors at this year's Bifas, earning a whopping 12 nominations in the process. Not far behind are Pillion and biopic I Swear, which snagged 10 and nine nods respectively.
My Father's Shadow premiered at Cannes with rave reviews, earning praise from The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw who described it as "a transparently personal project" that explores how two young boys glimpse their absent father's true life. Although the film has yet to hit UK theaters, its success in Nigeria is undeniable, with Davies making a strong directorial debut.
Meanwhile, Pillion – an English coming-of-age romance – has been garnering attention for its unique blend of humor and heartbreak. Critics lauded it as "intensely funny" at Cannes, likening it to Alan Bennett meets Tom of Finland. The film is set to release in the UK later this November, competing with My Father's Shadow for best British independent film.
I Swear, a biopic about Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson, has also secured a spot in the running, thanks to its strong lead performance from Robert Aramayo. However, it appears that Akinola Davies Jr's brother Wale is reaping the benefits of being part of the production, with best screenplay nods for his effort.
A new addition to this year's Bifas lineup is an award for cinema of the year – a public vote that promises to shake things up. The Depot in Lewes, Magic Lantern in Tywyn, Montrose Playhouse, Queen's Film Theatre in Belfast, and Watershed in Bristol round out the contenders, all vying for top honors on November 30th.
The stakes are high as winners prepare to be announced at London ceremony, but My Father's Shadow is currently leading the pack with an impressive array of nominations.
I'm literally super stoked about the nominees for Bifas this year! Akinola Davies Jr's Nigeria-set drama My Father's Shadow is giving me all the feels, and I'm so down to see how it'll hold up in UK theaters 
The shadow of critically acclaimed dads always brings a lot of interest, and I'm curious to see how Wale's contribution to My Father's Shadow is being recognized 
Davies Jr seems like an incredibly talented filmmaker, especially for his directorial debut - fingers crossed he takes home the top prize 
. It's great to see English coming-of-age romance getting recognition alongside critically acclaimed dramas. The new cinema of the year award is a nice touch - it'll be interesting to see how that plays out 
. Either way, can't wait to find out who takes home those Bifas awards on November 30th 
. I mean, 12 nominations for Akinola Davies Jr's film? That's already got some people hyped up, but does that necessarily mean it'll win? 
We've seen this before where hype doesn't always translate to actual wins.
I'm not sure I trust it. Is everyone just gonna vote for whatever film they think is "artistic" or something, rather than actually watching and understanding the movies? 
. Can't say I'm too stoked about it, but at least there are some good films up for consideration 
... Akinola Davies Jr must've put in a ton of work behind th scenes 2 b considered 4 all these awards n his film is still gettin love even though it hasn't hit theaters yet... thats the kinda grind n dedication that gets u noticed 
, n its not just about individual effort but also havin people like ur bro who got ur back in terms of writing credits too 
also, robert aramayo's lead performance in i swear is gonna give him an Oscar nod no doubt 
. Nigeria-set dramas aren't often seen in the UK indie scene, so I think My Father's Shadow is doing some amazing representation for African stories 
. The competition is fierce though - Pillion and I Swear are giving them a run for their money 
, and i'm not surprised it's leading the pack for Bifa nominations 
. but what i find even more amazing is how this young director is carrying on his father's legacy in such a powerful way 