{"id":34938,"date":"2025-06-18T10:29:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T09:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.okadamedia.com\/?p=34938"},"modified":"2025-10-20T18:00:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T17:00:06","slug":"qa-with-the-sessions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.okadamedia.com\/en\/qa-with-the-sessions\/","title":{"rendered":"Q&A with Judith Audu"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Indigo | Mar 2025<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Behind \u201cThe Sessions\u201d with Judith Audu<\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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March is all about celebrating women, and what better way to honor them than by highlighting \u201cThe Sessions<\/a>\u201d a\u00a0powerful drama that explores love, marriage, and the resilience of women. As we commemorate International Women\u2019s Day,\u00a0we asked a few questions to the talented female Nigerian director Judith Audu.<\/p>

Your film \u201cThe Sessions\u201d explores issues faced by couples. What inspired you to produce and direct this story?<\/h6>

The Sessions<\/strong> is loosely based on a true-life story, and what drew me to it was its\u00a0raw honesty. Over 60% of marriages fail due to lack of communication, couples go from\u00a0lovers to flatmates to strangers. Too many people enter marriage without addressing their\u00a0traumas, only to unpack them too late, projecting unresolved pain onto their partners.<\/p>

When I read Uyoyou Adia\u2019s brilliant script, I knew this story had to be told. It tackles deep,\u00a0unspoken struggles, the scars of a toxic upbringing, the pressure of being an only daughter\u00a0in a family that desires a son, the fear of repeating parental mistakes, domestic violence,\u00a0and the silent fight for equality.<\/p>

This film forces us to confront the hard truths about love, healing, and the conversations\u00a0we avoid. At its core, \u201cThe Sessions\u201d is about fighting for understanding before silence\u00a0destroys what could have been saved. That\u2019s why I had to make this film.<\/p>

As a female producer, director and actor, what challenges have you faced in the film industry, and how have you overcome them?<\/h6>

I know many women in the industry face real challenges, and their experiences\u00a0are absolutely valid. I\u2019ve been fortunate to work with amazing professionals who see my\u00a0value first, not my gender. For me, the work always comes first, and I\u2019ve been able to\u00a0balance my roles because I collaborate with people who respect skill, dedication, and\u00a0experience.<\/p>

That said, as a woman, I know I have to work ten times harder to prove myself. So, I make\u00a0sure that when I step into a room, my knowledge, expertise, and track record speak\u00a0louder than anything else. I stay prepared, I stay ready, and when opportunities come, I\u00a0deliver every single time.<\/p>

I\u2019ve overcome challenges by being unapologetically excellent. I bring my A-game to every\u00a0project, proving that I\u2019m not just a \u2018female\u2019 producer or director, I\u2019m a damn good one,\u00a0period. I also surround myself with people who believe in the vision and make space for\u00a0other women to step up, because representation matters.<\/p>

The industry is changing, but there\u2019s still work to do. My goal is to keep breaking barriers,\u00a0telling important stories, and paving the way for the next generation of female\u00a0filmmakers.<\/p>

As we celebrate 2025 International Women\u2019s Day, with the theme \u201cAccelerate Action, For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,\u201d imagine you had the power to instantly break one barrier for women in the film industry\u2014what would it be and why?<\/strong><\/h6>

\u00a0If I had the power to instantly break one barrier for women in the film industry, it\u00a0would be equal access to funding and opportunities.\u00a0Now, you might say, \u2018But in Nollywood, women are thriving!\u2019 And it\u2019s true, some of the\u00a0top box office producers right now are women. Many of the biggest films are led by\u00a0women, proving that against all odds, we are making waves.<\/p>

But then, you hear a male counterpart tear down all that hard work by saying she\u00a0succeeded just because she\u2019s a woman. Or you hear, \u2018Oh, she\u2019s a great director, the film\u00a0looked good\u2026 but who was her DP? He must have actually directed it.\u2019 These subtle jabs\u00a0undermine our achievements and reinforce the idea that no matter how far we go, we\u00a0always have something to \u2018prove.\u2019<\/p>

That\u2019s why we need to accelerate action. Women shouldn\u2019t have to fight for credit when\u00a0their work speaks for itself. Breaking this barrier means full recognition, respect, and\u00a0resources, so women in film aren\u2019t just thriving against the odds but succeeding because\u00a0they deserve to.<\/p>

How does \u201cThe Sessions\u201d contribute to the conversation around inclusion and the need for immediate action to break systemic barriers, in line with the 2025 International Women\u2019s Day theme?<\/strong><\/h6>

At its core, The Sessions is about unpacking hidden struggles, both personal and\u00a0societal. It tackles issues that women face daily but are often dismissed, marital\u00a0expectations, the weight of childhood trauma, gender inequality, and the silent battles of\u00a0women trying to be \u2018enough\u2019 in a world that constantly moves the goalpost.<\/p>

This film contributes to the conversation on inclusion by holding up a mirror to the\u00a0realities many women face but don\u2019t always have the space to talk about. It asks difficult\u00a0questions: How do systemic gender roles shape relationships? Why are women expected\u00a0to endure emotional labor without support? What happens when a woman\u2019s voice is\u00a0dismissed, even in her own home?<\/p>

But beyond starting the conversation, The Sessions<\/strong> aligns with the \u201cAccelerate Action\u201d\u00a0theme by showing why we can\u2019t afford to wait to break these systemic barriers. The story\u00a0highlights the urgent need for women to be heard, for past traumas to be acknowledged,\u00a0and for relationships to be built on equity, not expectation.<\/p>

Films like this are not just entertainment, they are catalysts for change. They force society\u00a0to look inward, challenge outdated norms, and inspire people to take action, now, not\u00a0later. And that\u2019s exactly what we need more of.<\/p>

What advice would you give to young women who aspire to become filmmakers, writers, or storytellers?<\/strong><\/h6>

My advice will be stop waiting for permission. The industry won\u2019t always roll out\u00a0a red carpet for you, so kick the damn door open and take up space!<\/p>

Be obsessed with your craft, write, direct, produce, learn everything you can. The more\u00a0knowledge you have, the more unstoppable you become. And when you walk into any\u00a0room, let your work speak louder than your gender.<\/p>

Also, understand this: rejection is not a full stop. It\u2019s just a comma in your story. Keep\u00a0pushing, keep refining, and when an opportunity doesn\u2019t come, Create your own.<\/p>

Most importantly, build a tribe. Surround yourself with people who see your vision,\u00a0challenge you to be better, and will ride for you and with you when the industry gets\u00a0tough.\u00a0Your voice matters. Your stories deserve to be told. So don\u2019t shrink yourself to fit, take up\u00a0space and own your power!<\/p>

If you could direct a film in any genre that you haven\u2019t explored yet, what would it be and why?<\/strong><\/h6>

I would love to direct a film that fully explores female sexuality, the beauty, the\u00a0complexity, the freedom of it without holding back. Women\u2019s desires, pleasure, and even\u00a0the unspeakable topics like menopause are still wrapped in silence, and it\u2019s time to break\u00a0that.<\/p>

Menopause, for example, is a huge life transition that every woman will go through, yet\u00a0it\u2019s rarely discussed in film in a way that actually prepares women for it. Imagine a story\u00a0that tackles it fearlessly showing the emotions, the shifts, the power that comes with that\u00a0phase of life.<\/p>

I love films that explore sexuality in its rawest form not just as a plot device but as\u00a0something deeply human. I\u2019d want to tell that story in a way that\u2019s liberating, honest, and\u00a0without shame. Because women\u2019s stories at EVERY stage of life deserve to be told with\u00a0the same depth and respect as any other.<\/p>

What\u2019s one fun or unexpected thing about you that people might not know?<\/strong><\/h6>

I don\u2019t know about Judith Audu and Fun in same sentence because people always\u00a0assume, I\u2019m this outgoing, social butterfly because of my job, but the truth is I don\u2019t like\u00a0going out. \ud83d\ude29\ud83d\ude02 If I had my way, I\u2019d be on my couch ALL DAY, binge-watching shows,\u00a0eating snacks, and avoiding human interaction like it\u2019s a sport.

But plot twist my job\u00a0requires me to be out there, networking, attending events, and talking to people. So every\u00a0time you see me outside looking all put together, just know there was a mental battle\u00a0before I stepped out of the house.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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