Daddy Bear, The fatherhood drama, starring Jammal Ibrahim, heads to community screenings in Abuja and Lagos across November and December.
Cardinal Productions has released the first-look images from Daddy Bear, shot by director of photography Fadamana Okwong. The film is completing post-production ahead of its first public screenings in Abuja and Lagos across November and December.
Daddy Bear follows Fahd, who is raising his ten-year-old daughter Aisha and a newborn after the death of their mother.
The Cast
Jammal Ibrahim, known for The Delivery Boy, The Milkmaid and Crime and Justice Lagos, plays Fahd. His own directorial debut, The Almajiri, was released on Prime Video in August through Native Filmworks’ First Features programme. That’s the same initiative that produced It Blooms in June, directed by Daddy Bear co-director Korede Azeez.
He is joined by Dera Osadebe as Aisha, Ummi Baba-Ahmed as Aunty Kike, Ame Aiyejina as Zahra and Ijapari Ben-Hirki as Khadijah.
Behind the camera
Cinematographer Fadamana Okwong has worked with director Taiwo Egunjobi on A Green Fever and The Fire and the Moth, and also shot Agbara Nla: The Return, currently in cinemas nationwide.
The film features an original score by Jonathan Ainwonkhai, whose credits include the AFRIFF award-winning To Adaego With Love. It is edited by Adio Solanke, whose credits include Evi, Ile Owo and Alahun: The Weaver.
Celebrating fathers who try
Set in a multicultural Muslim home in Abuja, Daddy Bear is built around a simple idea: celebrating fathers who try. Rather than a conventional cinema run, the film will reach audiences through community screenings, beginning in November. Venues and dates will be announced.
Daddy Bear is directed by Hajarat Alli and Korede Azeez, written by Hajarat Alli, and produced by Korede Azeez and Fulfilment “Fuchi” Nwaturuocha. The project is supported by the Entertainment and Media Hubs Programme, powered by CcHUB Creative Economy Practice in partnership with Africa No Filter.
About Daddy Bear
Daddy Bear is an upcoming Nigerian feature film from Cardinal Productions Ltd. It explores fatherhood, grief and community through the story of a father raising his children after the loss of his wife. Community screenings begin in November 2026.
Cardinal Productions Ltd is a film and media production company based in Abuja, Nigeria, founded by Korede Azeez. Her previous credits include Halima’s Choice (Netflix/UNESCO), With Difficulty Comes Ease and It Blooms in June (Amazon Prime Video).
