Following its Nigerian premiere as the opening film of the 2026 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Olive Nwosu’s LADY is set to arrive in Nigerian cinemas in March 2027.
Nwosu confirmed the theatrical release in a conversation with What Kept Me Up during the festival, adding that FilmOne Entertainment will handle distribution across Nigerian cinemas. Although a specific March release date has yet to be disclosed, the announcement marks the film’s next major step towards reaching Nigerian audiences.
Written and directed by Nwosu, LADY follows a Lagos female taxi driver who, while saving money for a new life away from the city, finds herself drawn into the world of a group of sex workers. What begins with judgment gradually becomes an unexpected story of friendship, sisterhood, and survival.
The film stars Jessica Gabriel’s Ujah, Amanda Oruh, Tinuade Jemiseye, Precious Agu Eke, Seun Kuti and Bucci Franklin, among others.
Before its Nigerian premiere, LADY had already attracted international attention, winning the Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The film also screened at the Berlinale and the BFI London Film Festival, among other international festivals.
Its selection as the opening film of AFRIFF’s 15th edition brought the Nigerian-British production to the festival, where local audiences could experience the film.
With FilmOne taking on distribution, the March 2027 release will introduce LADY to a wider theatrical audience in the country where its story is set.
