Derek Ugochukwu

Derek Ugochukwu (born 7 June 1991) is a Nigerian film director and screenwriter. He studied at Dun Laoghaire Institute Of Art Design and Technology in Dublin and was named one of Screen International Rising Stars of Ireland.

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). 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

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.

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. 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.

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

Filmography

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 Catalyst International Film Festival Spirit of the Festival Award British Academy of Film and Television Arts Live Action Student Awards 2022 Galway Film Fleadh Bingham Ray New Talent AwardYou're Not Home SITGES Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya Brigadoon Paul Naschy Award 2023 SXSW Film Festival Grand Jury Award Irish Film and Television Academy Best Live-Action Short 2024 Dublin International Film Festival Discovery AwardPediment Catalyst International Film Festival Spirit of the Festival Award