‘my Father’s Shadow’, Takes Home the Grand Jury at the Nbo Film Festival 2025 in Nairobi

The sixth edition of the NBO Film Festival concluded on 26 October 2025 at Prestige Cinema, Ngong Road, after a dynamic 10-day celebration of film, dialogue, African storytelling and creativity. Running across three venues — Prestige Cinema, Kaloleni Social Hall and Unseen Nairobi — this year’s edition featured over 26 films from more than 15 countries, including world premieres, African debuts and acclaimed international titles. Next year's festival will take place from the 15 - 25th of October 2026 with submissions opening mid- February 2026. The NBO Film Festival jury presented the 2025 Grand Jury Prize to ‘My Father’s Shadow’ by Akinola Davies (Nigeria) — the first Nigerian film ever selected for Cannes. The jury also gave a Special Mention to ‘The Dog’ — a provocative and thrilling crime drama that reminded us of the boundless potential of our industry and the exceptional talent thriving within it. The distinguished Kenyan jury comprising of Elsaphan Njora (multi-hyphenate artist), Carol Kioko (veteran producer), Mūmbi Kaigwa (award-winning actor and thespian) and led by Jury President Wanuri Kahiu (award-winning filmmaker and writer) shared the following statement: “On behalf of the NBO jury, we thank the festival for honouring us with this role. We were truly impressed by the diverse and compelling collection of films presented in the inaugural competitive section of the NBO 2025 Film Festival. After much deliberation, the jury unanimously chose to honour a film that deeply resonated with us, a poignant narrative about longing, the enduring bonds of family, and the profound yearning for a single day with one’s father. ‘My Father’s Shadow’ explores the intricate relationship between fathers and sons with remarkable tenderness and vulnerability, while capturing a pivotal moment in time when Nigeria’s hope for change powerfully overshadowed its doubts.” Other standout titles at the festival included ‘How To Build A Library’ by Maia Lekow and Christopher King, ‘The Shadow Scholars’ by Eloise King, ‘Matabeleland’ by Nyasha Kadandara and ‘Memories of Love Returned’ by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, among many other great titles. Audience-favourite Shorts, Shorts + Shots also returned for another lively edition at DocuBox, combining short films, music and social networking. Since its founding in 2017, the NBO Film Festival has evolved into a cultural cornerstone in East Africa, amplifying African voices and celebrating cinema as a force for connection and change. NBO Film Festival’s sixth edition continued to champion the strength and diversity of African storytelling, solidifying its reputation as East Africa’s foremost platform for cinema and cultural exchange.