Akinola Davies Jr.
Directing
Biography
Akinola Ogunmade-Davies Jr. is a multi-disciplined filmmaker, writer & video artist. His work is situated between West Africa and the UK as he identifies as a member of the global diaspora who is situated within the margins of being part of both worlds. Akinola tries to delicately navigate the collision of both colonial and imperial tradition and whilst advocating a return to indigenous narratives. He explores themes of community, race, spirituality, identity and gender, telling the stories that bridge the gap between traditional and millennial communities. These themes come with a duality: that of necessity and urgency in regards to the medium of storytelling. There is a large emphasis on a necessity for clear intention in concepts and a willingness to experiment with form: the preparation and meticulous research for his films assume a central role and are critical to his image manufacturing. He draws from aspects of collective, individual memory and lived experience.
Known For
Two young brothers explore Lagos with their estranged father during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis, witnessing both the city's magnitude and their father's daily struggles as political unrest threatens their journey home.
My Father's Shadow
An 8-year-old girl with an ability to sense danger gets ejected from Sunday school service. She unwittingly witnesses the underbelly in and around a Mega Church in Lagos.
Lizard
Two unaccompanied brothers embark on a journey to a new settlement on the moon planet Titan. Their interactions reflect the subtle naivety and anxious fear this huge moment means for each of them amidst an industrial sized group of migrants.
X US
A celebration of home and belonging in South London. This is a film that tows the line between documentary and narrative, and celebrates neighborhood and the rhythms of everyday life in South London. Friends for over a decade, their closeness runs through the piece; rooted in lived relationships, it resists spectacle in favor of quiet intimacy.
Spirit
Plot TBA. Described as a morality thriller set in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Delta Force Six
Rituals: Union Black is a moving-image essay archiving the everyday rituals that underscore the rhythms of Black life in the UK. Part ethnographic, part poetic, it celebrates the nuances of the Black British experience. Through worship, weddings, playgrounds, spirituality, birthing, choir, cooking, and movement, Rituals: Union Black pays tribute to the collective resonances of Black life in abundance.