The 15th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF 2026) kicked off in Lagos with the opening night premiere of Olive Nwosu’s feature directorial debut, Lady.
The premiere brought together an array of international stars, Nollywood royalty, cultural icons, and creative executives. Hollywood star Djimon Hounsou joined festival founder Chioma Ude on the carpet as a special guest of honor, alongside acclaimed actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim, director Olive Nwosu, cast members, and a host of filmmakers, actors, and industry heavyweights.
The venue buzzed with excitement as guests gathered to inaugurate the festival under this edition’s overarching theme, “Frames of the Future: Africa’s Creative Intelligence.” High-fashion glamour met artistic anticipation as industry stakeholders, diplomats, and cinema enthusiasts filled the screening hall.
Following international acclaim at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it earned a Special Jury Award and subsequent stops at the Berlinale and London, Lady made its homecoming debut to a receptive home audience.
About the Movie
Set in the restless streets of Lagos, Lady follows a fiercely independent female taxi driver (played by Jessica Gabriel’s Ujah) who navigates the city’s night economy while transporting a circle of sex workers.
Themes: Economic survival, female autonomy, sisterhood, and resilience.
Nwosu eschews typical polished aerial gloss, capturing Lagos from a grounded, intimate perspective.
Casts include Jessica Gabriel’s Ujah, Amanda Oruh, Tinuade Jemiseye, Seun Kuti, and Bucci Franklin.
As the credits rolled, the audience rewarded the film with warm applause. Attendees commended Nwosu’s authentic direction and standout performances—particularly Tinuade Jemiseye’s portrayal of Sugar.
The premiere established a strong tone for AFRIFF 2026, setting off a week-long slate of over 130 film screenings, industry masterclasses, and the AFRIFF Film & Content Market.
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Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.
She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay.
She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos.
As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender.
She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies.
Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the
prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the ‘Aviation Writer of the Year’ Category.
She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category.
She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations.
Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
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