Derek Ugochukwu

Derek Ugochukwu // ⓘ (born 7 June 1991) is a Nigerian director, writer, and actor. He studied at Dun Laoghaire Institute Of Art Design and Technology in Dublin and was named one of Screen International Rising Stars of Ireland.[1]

Derek Ugochukwu
Derek Ugochukwu
Born
Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma materDún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Occupations
  • Writer
  • Director
  • Actor

Early life and education

Ugochukwu was born in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. He is the third of six children raised in an Igbo Catholic family. He graduated with a 1st class master's degree in Screenwriting for Film & Television at Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT).[2] He also holds a master's degree in international management and global business awarded by the University of Limerick in 2014, making him a double master's holder.

Career

His early work includes roles in multiple short films and in 2018, he landed the role of 'Father Okocha' in "Honest"[3] premiering at the 2018 Galway Film Fleadh. In the same year, he took part in the Mill Theatre production Of Mice and Men as 'Crooks' and subsequently landed the role of 'Abu Al Jabar' in the 2020 Crime Drama Series Cold Courage[4] based on a book by Finnish author Pekka Hiltunen.

In May 2020, Screen Ireland announced Ugochukwu as one of the successful 15 writers selected from a pool of 195 applicants for its inaugural Spotlight development scheme aimed at fostering new and diverse writing talent.[5] In January 2021, Ugochukwu was one of the successful 10 writers shortlisted from over 600 entries for the Virgin Media Discovers short film competition in partnership with Screen Ireland.[6][7] ENGINE Shorts which aims to inspire and support up-and-coming writers, directors and producers in Limerick, Tipperary and Clare, announced Ugochukwu as one of the six winning directors selected to create inspiring, engaging world-class short films that resonate with a wide international audience.[8][9]

To All My Darlings, a short film written by Ugochukwu, and starring Demi Isaac Oviawe, was shortlisted for the 2021 BAFTA Student Film Awards.[10] It also won the Audience Award for Best Short at the 2021 Dublin International Film Festival.[11] His directorial short film, You're Not Home, was nominated for an IFTA for Best Live-Action Short,[12] screening at various prestigious international film festivals including Sitges Film Festival[13] and SXSW.[14]

Filmography

As actor
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Honest Father Okocha Short film
2019 Nightflyers Security Crew #1 3 episodes
2019 Dub Daze Rob
2019 Outnumbered Crying man Music Video for Dermot Kennedy
2020 Cold Courage Abu Al Jabar 3 episodes
2022 Water Under the Bridge Bilal's father Short film
2022 Surrender Your Horns James

Theatre
Year Title Role Format
2018 Of Mice and Men Croocks Mill Theater
2017 Owned Olaudah Equiano Smock Alley

As filmmaker
Year Title Director Writer Executive Producer Notes
2021 To All My Darlings No Yes Yes — Short film
2022 You're Not Home Yes Yes No — Short film
2023 Pediment Yes Yes No — Short film
TBA Nay Day Yes Yes No — Short film

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Film Result Ref
2021 Dublin International Film Festival Virgin Media Audience Award Shorts To All My Darlings Won [15]
Catalyst International Film Festival Spirit of the Festival Award Won [16]
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Live Action Student Awards Nominated [17]
2022 Galway Film Fleadh Bingham Ray New Talent Award You're Not Home Nominated [18]
SITGES Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya Brigadoon Paul Naschy Award Nominated [13]
Richard Harris International Film Festival Best Midwest Short Film Nominated [19]
2023 Irish Film and Television Academy Best Live-Action Short Nominated [12]

References
  1. "Screen unveils inaugural Rising Stars Ireland line-up". www.screendaily.com. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  2. "Derek Ugochukwu | IADT". www.iadt.ie. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. Matthew, Roche (10 July 2018). "Honest | Screen Ireland". www.screenireland.ie. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. Chaudhury, Bhagyasri (9 March 2021). "'Cold Courage' Full Cast List: Meet Sofia Pekkari, Pihla Viitala, John Simm, Arsher Ali and rest of the stars from AMC+ Nordic noir". Meaww.
  5. Rosser, Michael (15 May 2020). "Screen Ireland reveals screenwriters selected for Spotlight initiative (exclusive)". Screendaily.
  6. Slattery, Laura (13 January 2021). "Virgin Media backs 10 short films in €150,000 festival scheme". The Irish Times.
  7. "Ten projects shortlisted for 2021 Virgin Media Discovers & Screen Ireland Short Film Competition". IFTN. 13 January 2021.
  8. Lynch, Richard (16 March 2021). "Local Film Projects Shortlisted for ENGINE Short Film Scheme". ILoveLimerick.
  9. Cantillon, Louise (22 July 2021). "Louise Loves: Lights, camera, action for Limerick Short Film winners!". Limerick Leader.
  10. Wilkinson, Ruth (11 May 2021). "National Film School 'To All My Darlings' shortlisted for BAFTA". Institute of Art, Design + Technology.
  11. Dunne, Luke (12 April 2021). "Talking To All My Darlings with Lia Campbell and Derek Ugochukwu". Film In Dublin.
  12. "Irish Film, TV Nominations 2023: 'The Banshees of Inisherin,' 'Bad Sisters' Lead With Most Nods". Variety. 7 March 2023.
  13. "SITGES Festival Brigadoon Section". SitgesFilmFestival. 9 October 2022.
  14. "You're Not Home screens at SXSW 2023". SXSW. 11 January 2023.
  15. "Minari scoops the 2021 Virgin Media Audience Award". DIFF. 19 March 2021.
  16. "Awards winners for 2021 Catalyst International Film Festival announced". CatalystFilmFest. 23 March 2021.
  17. "Shortlist announced for 2021 GSA BAFTA Student Awards". BAFTA Los Angeles. 11 May 2021.
  18. "Bingham Ray New Talent Awards". GalwayFilmFleadh. 10 July 2022.
  19. "Nominees Richard Harris International Film Festival announced". RichardHarrisFilmFestival. 31 October 2022.


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