Creative Industry

For the First Time in 78 Years, a Nigerian Movie—‘My Father’s Shadow’—Gets Cannes Nomination

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2025

..As Minister Celebrates Akinola Davies

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa has congratulated Nigeria’s film director Akinola Davies Jr. for scripting and directing Nigeria’s first movie ever to make it to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in nearly 80years.

‘My Father’s Shadow’, set in Lagos in the aftermath of the 1993 Presidential election was officially announced on Thursday by organizers to compete at the prestigious Cannes Film festival billed for May 13- 24, 2025.

The movie will screen at the ‘Un Certain Regard’ strand, a prominent section within the Cannes Film Festival’s official selection that showcases films by new talents, ascendant producers and international cinema.

Minister Musawa expressed her excitement for the selection, congratulating the cast, crew, and creative team behind ‘My Father’s Shadow’. She stated that the achievement is a landmark moment for Nigerian cinema and storytelling, showcasing the richness of Nigerian stories, the depth of artistic talent, and the beauty of cultural identity.

“This momentous achievement is not only a personal milestone for Akinola Davies and the remarkable team at Fatherland Productions led by the brilliant Funmbi Ogunbanwo and Wale
Davies, but also a landmark moment for Nigerian cinema and storytelling.

“My Father’s Shadow stands as a powerful testament to what is possible when homegrown talent is nurtured, empowered, and given the space to shine. With a predominantly Nigerian cast and crew, the film reflects the richness of our stories, the depth of our artistry, and the beauty of our
cultural identity.

“This Cannes selection is a ringing endorsement of the transformative power of Nigerian creativity. It shows the world that we are not just participants but contenders—ready to shape the global narrative with our unique voice, vision, and excellence”.

The Minister also commended Fatherland Productions for their African storytelling which has earned them a recognition by BAFTA and Sundance Film Festivals.

“You have shown what it means to carry the Nigerian flag with grace and brilliance on the world stage. As we prepare to support My Father’s Shadow and its creators at Cannes through Screen Nigeria-our national platform for promoting Nigeria’s audiovisual industry—we are reminded of the importance of initiatives like Destination 2030: Nigeria Everywhere. This global soft
power strategy is designed to export our creative products and amplify the voices of talents like Akinola, Funmbi, and Wale—who are proving that the world is ready, eager, and inspired by
what Nigeria has to offer.

“Let this achievement ignite the dreams of the next generation of Nigerian storytellers. Let it
reaffirm our commitment to creating an enabling environment for creativity to thrive, and let it remind us all that Nigerian art, culture, and talent know no bounds”, Musawa stared.

The film, ‘My Father’s Shadow’ is among the 2,909 feature films screened to curate its 2025 lineup. The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy is also expected to launch ‘Screen Nigeria’ as part of Destination 2030: Everywhere campaign at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. This initiative aims to promote Nigeria’s audiovisual industry and showcase the country’s creative talent to a global audience.

NNEKA IKEM ANIBEZE Ph.D.
SA MEDIA & PUBLICITY
FMACCE/PS/ 93
10-04-2025

Share on Facebook

Creative Industry

Emirates Holidays Unveils Thailand Pass with Up to 40% Savings

Published

1 week ago

October 14, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Emirates Holidays has introduced the Thailand Pass, offering travellers exclusive discounts and complimentary benefits across shopping, dining, leisure and tourist attractions in Thailand.

The initiative provides Emirates Holidays customers travelling to Thailand with savings of up to 40 per cent, with no minimum spending requirement, alongside special offers designed to enhance their holiday experience.

Under the programme, customers can redeem shopping and dining vouchers at 14 participating malls across Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Krabi and Chiang Mai. To access the benefits, travellers are required to present their vouchers and a copy of their passports at participating outlets to collect their Welcome Packages.

The Thailand Pass also includes complimentary shuttle services between centralwOrld and Central Village Bangkok, as well as free VIP lounge access at both locations.

Beyond shopping and dining, customers can enjoy Buy One, Get One Free offers on selected attractions and experiences across Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Krabi. Participating brands include Playsquare Laser Tag, Playmondo, Swensen’s, Auntie Anne’s, Aquaria Phuket, OTO Playpark and Monowheel.

The package also offers an additional five per cent discount on Karmakamet wellness products.

The launch comes as Thailand continues to attract Emirates Holidays customers, with bookings increasing by 10 per cent year-on-year, according to the company.

The initiative further strengthens Emirates’ presence in the Southeast Asian destination. The airline recently deployed its Airbus A350 aircraft to Phuket and currently operates retrofitted Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft featuring Premium Economy cabins on services to Bangkok.

Emirates operates 49 weekly flights to Thailand, reflecting sustained demand for the destination and supporting the introduction of additional holiday benefits.

The Thailand Pass applies to eligible package bookings made until March 31, 2027. Customers can secure their holidays with a deposit and benefit from a flexible cancellation policy, providing additional time to arrange visas where necessary or make changes to their travel plans.

The offer is available to Emirates Holidays customers booking from selected markets, including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom’s neighbouring European markets and other participating countries.

Further information, including eligibility requirements and terms and conditions, is available at Emirates Holidays Thailand.

Copied from OmoNaijablog

Share on Facebook