Derek Nguyen is a multifaceted creative professional with a profound background as a refugee of the Vietnam war. He is a screenwriter, director, producer, and playwright who has made a significant impact in the industry.
His directorial feature debut, The Housemaid (Cô Hâu Gái),was released in North America by IFC Films in 2018 and in Vietnam by CJ Entertainment and HKFilms. The film was a global success, selling to 22 different territories worldwide.
Nguyen was a fellow at the Sundance Screenwriters Lab for his screenplay, Monster, which is based on his award-winning play. He is the co-founder of the production company The Population, along with Mynette Louie, which has produced a range of successful films and projects.
Derek has also been involved in various producing roles, working on films such as Swallow, I Carry You With Me, Catch the Fair One, and Somewhere Quiet. His producing credits also include The Tale, Lovesong, Buster's Mal Heart, Addicted to Fresno, and The Long Dumb Road, among others.
In addition to his work in film, Nguyen has written and directed two short films, The Potential Wives of Norman Mao and The Resemblance, which have screened at festivals worldwide.
Throughout his career, Derek has worked with numerous companies and organizations, including Gamechanger Films, Tribeca Film Institute, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and IFP/New York.
Nguyen has received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including the 1998-99 Van Lier Emerging Artists of Color Playwriting Fellowship at New York Theatre Workshop, the 1999 Y2K New Voices Play Competition Winner at East West Players, and the 2003 Edgar Award Nomination for Best Full-Length Play for Monster.
He has also received fellowships from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Sundance Institute's Screenwriters Lab, the Urban Artist Initiative Screenwriting Grant, and the New York Innovative Theatre Awards. Additionally, Nguyen has received the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) Fellowship, the Starfish Accelerator Fellowship, and the 2022 Future Gold Film Fellowship, presented by Tribeca Studios, Netflix, and Gold House.
