Nigerian Film Production Unveils Poster for Family Drama 'Daddy Bear'

Nigerian film production company Cardinal Productions has released the official poster for 'Daddy Bear', a family drama that explores fatherhood, grief, and the challenges of raising children after the death of a spouse. The film is directed by Hajarat Alli and Korede Azeez and follows Fahd, an Abuja-based architect who becomes a single father to his 10-year-old daughter, Aisha, and a newborn following the death of his wife, Khadijah. The film celebrates fathers who strive to fulfil their responsibilities while navigating the challenges of parenting, loss, and family life.

The poster features Fahd standing with his back to the camera, carrying his sleeping newborn on his shoulder in front of a prayer rug. The imagery brings together themes of fatherhood, faith, and grief, with the prayer rug's rust, gold, and slate-blue colours setting the visual tone for the film. The poster was designed by Iyebiye 'Kaizen' Adeitan, whose previous film design credits include 'Ayinla', 'Call of My Life', 'Ajosepo', and 'THE FOUR'.

The film's producer, Fulfilment 'Fuchi' Nwaturuocha, said the production explores the responsibilities associated with fatherhood and caregiving. The poster aims to convey this message without words. Director Hajarat Alli explained that the image of Fahd carrying his baby became the emotional centrepiece of the poster, allowing the audience to relate to the relationship between a father and his child.

'Daddy Bear' will reach audiences through community screenings, with advance screenings scheduled to begin in November 2026. Ticketed screenings are expected to commence in early 2027, while venues and specific dates will be announced through the film's social media platforms. The film is supported by the Entertainment & Media Hubs programme of CcHUB Creative Economy Practice, in partnership with Africa No Filter.

Cardinal Productions Ltd is an Abuja-based film and media production company founded by Korede Azeez. The company's previous productions include 'Halima's Choice', which was associated with Netflix and UNESCO, 'With Difficulty Comes Ease', and 'It Blooms in June', available on Amazon Prime Video.

The film's story was written by Hajarat Alli, while the screenplay was developed by Alli and Cardinal StoryWorks. Africa No Filter is an advocacy organisation that uses storytelling to challenge stereotypical narratives about Africa and promote stories reflecting the continent's progress, innovation, and opportunities.

Interested audiences can follow @daddybearfilm on Instagram, X, and TikTok for updates on screenings and other announcements. The film features Jammal Ibrahim, Dera Osadebe, Ummi Baba-Ahmed, Ame Aiyejina, and Ijapari Ben-Hirki in key roles.

Key points

• The film 'Daddy Bear' explores themes of fatherhood, grief, and single parenting in a multicultural Muslim household.