Nigerian Stars of 'Lady' Slam 'Dehumanizing' Trump Travel Ban, Praise 'Sisterhood' Behind Sundance Prizewinner

Co-stars of Olive Nwosu's feature debut talk missing Sundance premiere due to Trump's travel ban, finding sisterhood on set of Nigerian drama.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The ensemble cast of Olive Nwosu's debut film 'Lady' were denied travel visas by the Trump administration, forcing them to miss the movie's world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble. The stars, including Jessica Gabriel's Ujah, Amanda Oruh, and Tinuade Jemiseye, are now hoping to celebrate the film's international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, describing the emotional rollercoaster of watching the Sundance triumph from afar and the strong bonds they formed during production.

Why it matters

The visa denials highlight the ongoing impact of the Trump administration's restrictive travel policies, which have disproportionately affected artists and filmmakers from certain countries. The story also underscores the importance of diverse, international voices in cinema and the challenges they can face in getting their work seen on the global stage.

The details

Nwosu's debut feature 'Lady' follows a hard-edged young female cab driver in Lagos who unexpectedly befriends a group of sex workers. The film was financed by the BFI, Film4 and Screen Scotland, with additional funding from Level Forward and Amplify Capital. Despite the Sundance triumph, the Nigerian stars were forced to miss the premiere after being denied travel visas by the Trump administration, which had cracked down on visas from dozens of countries including Nigeria. The actors describe the emotional experience of watching the premiere from afar and the strong bonds they formed during production, with the director praised for creating an environment that celebrated vulnerability and empathy.

  • The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026.
  • The film will have its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 18, 2026.

The players

Olive Nwosu

The British Nigerian writer-director of the film 'Lady'.

Jessica Gabriel's Ujah

One of the stars of 'Lady' who was denied a visa to attend the Sundance premiere.

Amanda Oruh

One of the stars of 'Lady' who was denied a visa to attend the Sundance premiere and described the experience as 'dehumanizing'.

Tinuade Jemiseye

One of the stars of 'Lady' who was denied a visa to attend the Sundance premiere and referred to her co-stars as 'my sisters'.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose administration cracked down on travel visas from dozens of countries, including Nigeria, preventing the 'Lady' cast from attending the Sundance premiere.

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What they’re saying

“to be denied a visa for something I legitimately earned, because of my nationality plus politics isn't just disappointing, it's DEHUMANIZING.”

— Amanda Oruh, Actress (X)

“Looking at the pictures, I was smiling from ear to ear, feeling immense pride for the work we've done.”

— Amanda Oruh, Actress (Variety)

“Our story lives on [and] is having a life of its own.”

— Jessica Gabriel's Ujah, Actress (Variety)

“These are my women for real. These are my sisters.”

— Tinuade Jemiseye, Actress (Variety)

What’s next

The cast is hopeful that they will be able to attend the film's international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on February 18, 2026.

The takeaway

This story highlights the ongoing challenges faced by international artists and filmmakers in getting their work seen on the global stage, particularly in the face of restrictive travel policies. It also underscores the importance of fostering diverse, inclusive creative communities that can transcend political barriers.