Praise Odigie Paige on Birdie, Sundance, and Making the Film You Want to See

In this Season 7 pre-launch bonus episode, we sit with filmmaker Praise Odigie Paige , whose short film Birdie is playing at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival , to talk about quiet storytelling, risk, faith, and what it takes to make the work you believe in — even when the odds feel stacked. This conversation is a reminder that there is power in patience, in subtlety, and in choosing yourself as an artist.

Praise’s journey to filmmaking — from growing up between Nigeria and the U.S. to abandoning a pre-med path for film ([00:02:00–00:06:30]) The making of Birdie and why she was drawn to a quiet coming-of-age story rooted in faith, displacement, and girlhood ([00:08:00–00:13:30]) The Biafran War and why this under-discussed history matters to the film’s emotional core ([00:11:00–00:12:45]) Why Virginia (and Appalachia) became the setting for a Nigerian immigrant story — and what cultural exile looks like on screen ([00:14:00–00:15:30]) Writing against expectation : resisting pressure to make the story louder, faster, or more “palatable” ([00:16:00–00:19:30]) Financing the film — self-funding, shooting on 35mm, and what it really costs to make a period short ([00:20:00–00:21:30]) Shooting during election week in rural Appalachia and navigating safety, community, and grace on set ([00:22:00–00:23:15]) The Signature Sista Brunch Question — what Praise would tell her younger self about mistakes, timing, and growth ([00:25:00–00:26:45]) If you’re a Black woman or Black gender expansive creative navigating film or media, this episode offers: A grounded look at career sustainability in entertainment Permission to make work that’s quiet, specific, and true Honest insight into mentorship, risk, and self-trust A reminder that representation isn’t just about visibility — it’s about nuance Praise’s story speaks to anyone building in real time and learning to honor their own pace. Praise Odigie Paige is a Nigerian-born filmmaker based in Brooklyn.

Her work centers girls and women on the edge of quiet transformation. Her short film Birdie is screening at the Sundance Film Festival, and she is currently developing her debut feature, Igboland , an intimate period drama exploring faith, girlhood, and desire at the edge of war. 🎧 Listen and subscribe to Sista Brunch on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch the episode on YouTube: @TruJuLoMedia ⭐ Leave a review — it helps more people find this community 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @SistaBrunchPodcast 🤍 Support the podcast via Patreon or GiveButter to help us continue archiving these stories