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 series of the NBO 2025 film festival. The in-competition films were Memories of Princess Mumbi, Promised Sky, The Fisherman, My Father’s Shadow and The Dog.
Our jury had the privilege of viewing remarkable cinematic works from across Africa, spanning drama, comedy, and sci-fi, all masterfully exploring themes of love, sacrifice, and leaps of faith. After much deliberation, the jury has unanimously chosen to honour a film that deeply resonated with us.
The NBO film festival jury is immensely proud to present the 2025 Grand Jury Prize to 'My Father’s Shadow'.
It is a poignant narrative about longing, the profound bonds of family love, and the heartfelt yearning for a single day with one's father. 'My Father’s Shadow' confronts the intricate relationship between fathers and sons with remarkable fragility and tenderness, all while capturing a pivotal moment in time when Nigeria’s hope for change powerfully overshadowed its doubts.
We also would like to give a special mention to a provocative, exciting crime drama that reminded us how much our industry can do—and how exceptional our homegrown talent is. For that reason, we wish to acknowledge the film “The Dog” for daring us to push further.