Daniel Kokotajlo Explained

Daniel Kokotajlo (born)^[1] is a British film writer and director.^[2] He has also used the name Dan P. K. Smyth.^[3]

He wrote and directed the 2017 film Apostasy, which reflects his own experience of growing up as a Jehovah's Witness,^[4] and the 2023 film Starve Acre, based on Andrew Michael Hurley novel of the same name.^[5]

Apostasy won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain award for "Best First Screenplay",^[6] and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer in 2018,^[7] and for six British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).^[8]

Kokotajlo has a BA (2003) in textiles and fine art from Manchester Metropolitan University and an MA (2010) from the University of Westminster in screenwriting and film production.^[9]

Filmography

Feature films

• Apostasy, 2017: writer and director
• Starve Acre, 2023: writer and director

Short films

• The Mess Hall of an Online Warrior (2010): writer and director^[10]
• Myra (2011): writer and director
• Every Good Boy Does Fine (2012): writer and director
• Gummy Man Rage (2012): writer and director
• Off Yer 'Ead (2014): writer and director

Notes and References

1. News: de Semlyen . Phil . Daniel Kokotajlo: 'I had no interest in dealing with my time as a Jehovah's Witness' . 10 November 2023 . Time Out Worldwide . 24 July 2018.
2. Web site: Daniel Kokotajlo: Writer/Director . www.bafta.org . 10 November 2023 . en . 30 October 2018.
3. Web site: The Mess Hall of an Online Warrior . TVGuide.com . 10 November 2023 . en.
4. News: Cooke . Rachel . Apostasy director: 'It was liberating to leave the Jehovah's Witnesses' . 10 November 2023 . The Observer . 15 July 2018.
5. News: Bradshaw . Peter . Starve Acre review – intelligent performances in sinister Yorkshire folk horror . 10 November 2023 . The Guardian . 12 October 2023.
6. Web site: Writers' Guild Awards 2019 . Writers' Guild of Great Britain . 10 November 2023.
7. Web site: 2019 Film Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer . awards.bafta.org . 10 November 2023.
8. Web site: Daniel Kokotajlo . BIFA · British Independent Film Awards . 10 November 2023 . 31 October 2018.
9. Web site: Dan Kokotajlo . LinkedIn . 10 November 2023.
10. Web site: The Mess Hall of an Online Warrior . Daniel Kokotajlo . 10 November 2023.