The Story⚡
The award-winning UK-Nigeria action thriller Son of the Soil, directed by Chee Keong Cheung and starring Razaaq Adoti, will make its US debut at the 34th Annual Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Tell Me More
Son of the Soil continues its strong international festival run with an official selection at the prestigious Pan-African Film Festival (PAFF). The Los Angeles screening marks the film’s first appearance before American audiences. The film has already earned notable recognition, including Best Director, Best Feature, and Best International Showcase at the Black Star International Film Festival in Ghana. It also received the Audience Choice Award at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), plus Best Child Actress and Most Promising Actor at the Best of Nollywood Awards, alongside five additional nominations. It previously screened as part of Entertainment Week Africa and had a successful theatrical release in the UK and 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, the film follows Zion Ladejo (Razaaq Adoti), a former Nigerian Special Ops paratrooper who returns home after his sister’s death and becomes entangled in a violent conflict with the city’s criminal underworld. The story blends intense action sequences with a personal revenge narrative.
The cast includes Patience Ozokwo, Ireti Doyle, Taye Arimoro, Sunshine Rosman, Damilola Ogunsi, Philip Asaya, Ijelu Folajimi, Emeka Golden, and Sharon Rotimi. 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, added: “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.”Actor and producer Razaaq Adoti commented, “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 Danny Glover, Ja’Net DuBois, Ayuko Babu, and Bertha B. Robinson, PAFF has become one of the world’s leading platforms for Black and African cinema, attracting thousands of attendees and industry professionals each year.
In Summary
Son of the Soil marks a significant milestone with its upcoming US premiere at the respected Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles. The film demonstrates the growing global reach of ambitious African action cinema through disciplined production and strategic distribution, with further international screenings scheduled throughout 2026.
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