The acclaimed UK-Nigeria action thriller Son of the Soil, directed by Chee Keong Cheung and featuring Razaaq Adoti, is set to make its US debut at the 34th Annual Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Continuing its impressive run on the international festival circuit, Son of the Soil has been selected for the esteemed Pan-African Film Festival (PAFF). This screening in Los Angeles marks the film’s first opportunity to connect with American audiences. The film has already garnered significant accolades, including Best Director, Best Feature, and Best International Showcase at the Black Star International Film Festival in Ghana. Additionally, it won the Audience Choice Award at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF). It received honours for Best Child Actress and Most Promising Actor at the Best of Nollywood Awards, among several other nominations. Before this, the film screened at Entertainment Week Africa and enjoyed a successful theatrical run in the UK and Africa.
Produced by Action Xtreme and Sovereign Films in collaboration with Boxonia Blueprint, and distributed in Africa and the UK by Nile Entertainment and Sovereign, the narrative follows Zion Ladejo (Razaaq Adoti), a former Nigerian Special Ops paratrooper. He returns home after the death of his sister and finds himself caught in a violent power struggle with the city’s criminal underbelly. The film artfully weaves together intense action sequences with a deeply personal revenge storyline.
The cast includes notable talents such as Patience Ozokwo, Ireti Doyle, Taye Arimoro, Sunshine Rosman, Damilola Ogunsi, Philip Asaya, Ijelu Folajimi, Emeka Golden, and Sharon Rotimi. Director Chee Keong Cheung expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Bringing Son of the Soil to PAFF for its U.S. premiere is a significant milestone for the film and all those involved. While the story is firmly rooted in Nigeria, its themes and aspirations resonate globally. We’re thrilled to present it to American audiences and the broader African diaspora.”
Moses Babatope, Founder of Nile Media Entertainment Group, remarked, “Son of the Soil embodies the ambitious, globally competitive nature of African filmmaking that is transforming how our stories reach the world. The film’s success across various festivals and markets highlights that African cinema can have an international impact when there’s a synergy of creative vision, production discipline, and strategic long-term thinking.”
Actor and producer Razaaq Adoti shared his sentiments, saying, “As a proud Nigerian, filming this project on the African continent has been a pinnacle of my career, and it’s poetic to return to PAFF to premiere it. Thank you, PAFF, for providing us with a platform to share our narratives.” Founded in 1992 by Danny Glover, Ja’Net DuBois, Ayuko Babu, and Bertha B. Robinson, PAFF has emerged as one of the foremost platforms for Black and African cinema, drawing thousands of attendees and industry professionals each year.
