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Sundance 2026: "Lady" and "Jazz Infernal" Shine Bright

2/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival awarded "Lady" the Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble.
Will Niava's "Jazz Infernal" won the Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction.
Olive Nwosu, the director of "Lady," tells the story of a Lagos taxi driver who finds sisterhood among sex workers.
"Jazz Infernal" follows an Ivorian trumpeter in Montreal confronting his roots.
"Lady" will screen at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026.

History

Historical Context

Established in 1985, the Sundance Film Festival emerged from the earlier Utah/US Film Festival, founded in 1978 by Robert Redford to promote independent cinema. Over the years, it has become the largest independent film festival in the U.S., showcasing over 100 films annually and influencing global cinema by highlighting diverse narratives and marginalized voices, as seen in this year's "Lady."

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Story summary

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival awarded "Lady" the Special Jury Award for Acting Ensemble.
Will Niava's "Jazz Infernal" won the Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction.
Olive Nwosu, the director of "Lady," tells the story of a Lagos taxi driver who finds sisterhood among sex workers.
"Jazz Infernal" follows an Ivorian trumpeter in Montreal confronting his roots.
"Lady" will screen at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026.

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