Multiple award-winning Nigerian filmmaker and actress, Judith Audu holds a Certificate in Directing from the London Film Academy. She also has a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Lagos and a Bachelor of Arts in French from the same institution. In 2019, she won Best Nollywood Female Filmmaker and Best Director. In 2021, she received a recognition award for her production from the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. In this interview, she talks about her debut in the industry, her dreams of becoming a diplomat, the challenges and her many awards.
You have won lots of awards from movie productions; how did your career in making movies begin?
My career in producing movies began in 2014 after I created my production company, Judith Audu Productions. We kicked off by partnering with our friends to create a short film on Domestic Violence entitled ‘Not Right’, which went on to get screened in several film festivals and also got several nominations and was used as an advocacy video by several NGOs against domestic violence. It also attracted a TV crew from Poland, who came to do a documentary on me for five days. They wanted to know me. After that, we went on to partner with friends again to create our first feature film entitled: ‘Just Not Married’. The movie was a major game-changer for everyone involved in making it. We were screened at one of the biggest film festivals in the world, the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016. And a lot changed after then as it became a stamp on my pedigree as a good filmmaker and that became my transition into becoming one of Nollywood’s top producers, I have gone on to be part of several top Nollywood projects, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.
What do these awards mean to you?
In the beginning, winning awards came as a sign that people are watching and noticing me, my very first nomination for best actress came as a big surprise, and then it became a validation that I was on the right track when I diversified into producing and then directing. What it does is challenge me to constantly elevate the standard of my work and not settle for less. A lot of people draw strength from the things we do so we always have to show it can be done and quality can be achieved if you have a standard and reputation to protect. I cherish all my awards as they have a way of letting me know we are doing well. We all need that pat on the back sometimes and when your own recognise you, it does something great within you that provokes you to want to do more. It’s priceless, to say the least, and I cherish it.
With your several degrees, you could have excelled in other careers, why did you choose acting as a career?
This is the same question I have always asked myself every time. In the beginning, it started as an intentional act of building a career to become a diplomat, but passion brought me into the entertainment industry and has had me glued with its claws ever since.
In every trade, the beginnings are always challenging. Tell us a little about the challenges you have had to overcome.
To be honest, my beginning was not challenging, the challenge is sustenance, being consistent and remaining relevant. Getting funds for project after project and reinventing oneself. Staying relevant is hard and being a filmmaker in Nigeria is not easy as we don’t have that enabling environment to make productions easy.
Getting funds is hard, shooting itself is always a miracle as the environment always throws things at you to frustrate the process but we always find a way to make things work.
What has kept you on this path?
To be honest, passion and love for this craft. And it is my happy place. Nothing gives me joy more than seeing a script being brought to life. It feels so fulfilling and makes you forget all the stress quickly.
Looking back, would you say it was worth the time and effort?
Yes, it is worth it when I hear stories of the impact and changes it has brought to people. I am happy when I watch the finished product and how some of them have provoked conversations. It makes it all worth it. We try to also mentor some young filmmakers and put them through and eventually seeing these young filmmakers become top filmmakers makes me so very fulfilled and happy.
Has there been any time you wished you did something else?
Yes, several times I had wished I was an ambassador or worked in a multinational company. And this happens every time I am frustrated and cannot get funds to shoot a movie. It is so difficult being a filmmaker and we do not get paid enough for the troubles.
What is your advice to upcoming producers and actors?
My advice is that they should equip themselves with knowledge; there are materials to read online if they cannot afford to go to a film school. They can also learn on the job. You become better at doing, and doing it again and again. They should know about the industry and be current. They should have patience and know that the industry is not an easy place. This is not a place for a lazy person, and there are no shortcuts. If you are here just for the glam and fame, think again. The currency in the industry is in the network and connection you have. So, build a tribe as you work. You have to be highly disciplined and professional in all your dealings and know that talent is never, never enough. Be patient and use your wait time to plan how to be intentional and work smart. Know that everyone builds their paths, and what works for A may not work for you. So create your path as we are all here for different reasons. Don’t lose yourself in trying to become someone else. Always stand by your truth and be true to yourself. This path is not an easy one but you have to keep pushing, be consistent, be persistent and find a way to make things happen, learn to collaborate with like minds and know that whatever can be imagined can be actualised.
What do you think the Nigerian government should do to help movie makers and the entertainment industry function better?
The government needs to create an enabling environment for filmmakers so that we are not usually harassed when filming even after getting film permits. They should create more film funds with realistic projections for filmmakers. Getting funds to make standard productions is always a challenge for filmmakers. If we can access a fund with realistic projections, it would help.
How have you managed all these and the home front?
I try to find a balance and priorities.
What are you currently working on and what should we expect from Judith Audu Productions?
Our last movie, THE SESSIONS will soon be available on a streaming platform. It has been doing festival rounds and I really cannot wait for everyone to see it. The movie is filled with so many social issues like the effects of a dysfunctional home on children, marriage issues, women empowerment, domestic violence and more. We are also working on a documentary where we will be using an all-female crew yet again, we will be doing an expose on an issue that may be the answer to a lot of women’s problems. It will be shot in four states in Nigeria. We are also presently sourcing for funds and collaborations to bring our amazing slates of films to life and looking forward to getting an investor as soon as I am super excited with our line-up.
