Derek Ugochukwu

Derek Ugochukwu is a Nigerian actor and screenwriter.

Derek Ugochukwu
Derek Ugochukwu in 2017
Born
Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Alma materDún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active2017–present

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 moved to Kuching, Malaysia at age 16 to obtain a degree in business management and subsequently to Ireland to pursue his acting career, playing his ever first theatre role as 'Olaudah Equiano' at Dublin's Scene and Heard Festival.[1] In 2019, Ugochukwu 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[3][4]

Career

Ugochukwu's early work includes roles in multiple short films and in 2018, he landed the role of 'Father Okocha' in "Honest"[5][6] premiering at the 2018 Galway Film Fleadh.[7] In the same year, he took part in Of Mice and Men[8] as Crooks. He then made his feature film debut with "Dub Daze",[9][10] a modern Irish version of the 1993 comedy movie Dazed and confused, premiered at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival in 2019, subsequently landing the role of 'Abu Al Jabar' in 2020 Crime Drama Series Cold Courage[11] 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.[12] 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[13][14]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Actor Director Writer Producer Role Notes
2017 Sink No Yes Yes Yes N/A Short film
2018 Act of Separation Yes No No No Tom Short film
Honest Yes No No No Father Okocha Short film
2019 Dub Daze Yes No No No Rob
2020 To All My Darlings No No Yes Yes N/A Short film

Television
Year Title Actor Director Writer Executive Producer Role Notes
2018-2019 Nightflyers (TV Series) Yes No No No Security Crew #1 3 episodes
2020 Cold Courage Yes No No No Abu Al Jabar 2 episodes

Theatre
Year Title Role Format
2018 Of Mice and Men Croocks Mill Theater[15]
2017 Owned Olaudah Equiano Smock Alley

Music videos
Year Song Role Artist Notes
2019 Outnumbered Running Man Dermot Kennedy Without Fear (album)

References
  1. Ailish, Leavy (26 September 2017). "Ailish Leavy « Sitting on the Fourth Wall". Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. "Derek Ugochukwu | IADT". www.iadt.ie. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. Stephanie, Broocks. "Derek Ugochukwu – Broocks Agency". Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. "Derek Ugochukwu". FilmFreeway.
  5. Matthew, Roche (10 July 2018). "Honest | Screen Ireland". www.screenireland.ie. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. "Honest". Fajr International Film Festival. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. "International Film Directory - Film Listing".
  8. "Balally Players - Productions".
  9. "Preview of Irish Films @ Dublin International Film Festival 2019 – Film Ireland Magazine".
  10. "Dub Daze - Film Review and Listings".
  11. "Cold Courage (TV Series 2020– ) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  12. Rosser, Michael (15 May 2020). "Screen Ireland reveals screenwriters selected for Spotlight initiative (exclusive)". Screendaily.
  13. Slattery, Laura (13 January 2021). "Virgin Media backs 10 short films in €150,000 festival scheme". The Irish Times.
  14. News, Desk (13 January 2021). "Ten projects shortlisted for 2021 Virgin Media Discovers & Screen Ireland Short Film Competition". IFTN.
  15. "Of Mice and Men".
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