‘Son of the Soil’, the critically acclaimed UK-Nigeria action thriller directed by Chee Keong Cheung and starring Razaaq Adoti (Amistad, Black Hawk Down), has been officially selected to screen at the 34th Annual Pan-African Film Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles, where it will receive its US premiere.
The screening marks the latest milestone in the film’s strong international run, following multiple festival accolades and a successful theatrical release in the UK and Africa. Son of the Soil previously won top honours at the Black Star International Film Festival in Ghana, including Best Director, Best Feature and Best International Showcase, and received the Audience Choice Award at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), alongside the Best Child Actress and Most Promising Actor awards at the Best of Nollywood Awards (and five further nominations). ‘Son of the Soil’ also screened as part of Entertainment Week Africa.
Produced by Action Xtreme and Sovereign Films in association with Boxonia Blueprint and distributed in Africa and the UK by Nile Entertainment and Sovereign, ‘Son of the Soil’ has emerged as a standout example of commercially driven, globally minded African action cinema.
Described by Nollywire as “Nollywood’s most ambitious action film yet”, the film follows Zion Ladejo, a former Nigerian Special Ops paratrooper who returns home after the death of his sister and is soon drawn into a violent confrontation with the city’s criminal underworld. Gritty, propulsive and emotionally grounded, the film combines high-impact action set pieces with a character-driven revenge narrative.
Led by a breakout performance from Razaaq Adoti, the cast also includes Patience Ozokwor, Ireti Doyle, Taye Arimoro, Sunshine Rosman, Damilola Ogunsi, Philip Asaya, Ijelu Folajimi, Emeka Golden and Sharon Rotimi.
Producer/Director Chee Keong Cheung said, “Bringing ‘Son of the Soil’ to PAFF for its US premiere is a major moment for the film and for everyone who worked on it. This story is rooted in Nigeria, but its themes and ambition are global. We’re proud to be sharing it with American audiences and the wider African diaspora.”
Moses Babatope, founder of Nile Media Entertainment Group, said, “‘Son of the Soil’ reflects the kind of ambitious, globally competitive African filmmaking that is redefining how our stories travel. The film’s journey across festivals and markets shows that African cinema can succeed internationally when creative vision, production discipline and long-term industry thinking align. This is exactly the kind of work that pushes the ecosystem forward.”
Actor/producer Razaaq Adoti added, “‘Son of the Soil’ was conceptualised as an audacious Africa/UK crossover action film that was brought to life by a talented group of Nigerian artists both in front of and behind the camera alongside our British-Chinese director and British DP, Jack Thompson-Roylance. As a proud Nigerian, shooting this film on the African continent has been a highlight of my career, and it is sheer poetry that I’m able to return to PAFF to premiere this work. Thank you, PAFF, for giving us a home to share our stories.”
Founded in 1992 by acclaimed actor and cultural ambassador Danny Glover, along with Ja’Net DuBois, Ayuko Babu and Bertha B. Robinson, the Pan-African Film Festival has grown into one of the most respected and influential showcases of Black and African cinema in the world. Based in Los Angeles, PAFF has served as a vital bridge between African, diaspora and African-American filmmakers and the global industry, championing bold, socially engaged and commercially ambitious storytelling for more than three decades.
Each year, the festival attracts tens of thousands of attendees, industry executives, programmers and media from across the United States and internationally. With alumni including Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler, Steve McQueen and Barry Jenkins, PAFF has played a key role in launching and amplifying major creative voices. Its platform has become a recognised gateway for African and diaspora-led films seeking wider theatrical, streaming and international distribution, making Son of the Soil’s U.S. premiere at PAFF a significant milestone in the film’s global trajectory.
‘Son of the Soil’ continues to play internationally throughout 2026, with further festival appearances and territory releases to be announced.
