Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies, acclaimed for My Father’s Shadow — Nigeria’s first-ever Cannes entry — is reuniting with Rachel Dargavel of Element Pictures for his sophomore feature, Delta Force Six. The film, described as a hostage thriller and morality tale, will be shot on location in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.
Dargavel, who produced My Father’s Shadow, revealed that Delta Force Six is currently in early development and will likely enter production within two years. She emphasized the importance of making the second feature as strong as possible, stating, “You know how hard it is to get a second feature up and away and to make it great. I want for us to not be those people who stumble.”
Plot and Setting
Co-written by Davies and his brother Wale Davies, who also co-penned their breakout debut, Delta Force Six is set against the turbulent backdrop of Niger Delta militancy — exploring themes of corporate greed, environmental devastation, and local resistance. The story follows rebels who kidnap foreign oil workers and sabotage pipelines, with journalists caught between conflicting forces.
“The landscape has been ravaged by the need for oil — or the greed for oil, whichever way you look at it,” Dargavel remarked, highlighting the film’s strong social commentary.
Cannes Momentum
Davies’ My Father’s Shadow made waves at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, screening in the Un Certain Regard category and receiving a Special Mention from the Camera d’Or jury. The film, which will also screen at the BFI London Film Festival this fall, has positioned Davies as one of Africa’s most exciting new voices in global cinema.
Challenges and Collaboration
Dargavel, who has extensive experience producing internationally, says working in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted but credits her Nigerian collaborators, including Funmbi Ogunbanwo of Fatherland Productions, for navigating local challenges. “You are not just in it for the money,” she said. “You care about the films, the talent, and the stories being told.”
She compared Element Pictures’ commitment to Davies to their long-term support for acclaimed filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things, The Favourite), suggesting a bright future for the Nigerian director.
