Darren’s debut short film, Blueberry Smoothie, earned global acclaim on the festival circuit, winning 17 awards including the New York Screenwriting Award for Best Short Screenplay LGBTQIA and Best Performance – LGBTQ+ at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival. The film also premiered at the London Independent Film Festival.
His creative vision extended to Simmer, created through Sundance Co//ab’s directing program, with Glitched, Land of Make Believe and Loop of Desire earning numerous script accolades. Dark comedy short Glitched, co-written with Sharon Burrell, has completed post-production and will soon premiere on the International Festival circuit. Together they’re developing a high-end TV series supported by climate-focused Hag Films.
His feature film slate includes several projects at various stages of development: Happy Camper, a German/Scottish co-production awaits pre-production; Earth, a sci-fi fantasy thriller co-written with Caleb Packham has completed development and is ready for production; and the spy thriller DEMONIC, currently in script development. Additional feature scripts in his portfolio include The Dress, Capture and Sylvester, alongside three other short film scripts ready for production: Shift, Land of Make Believe, and Loop of Desire.
In 2014, Darren founded Making Productions to champion bold, inclusive storytelling. The company has produced 31 plays, musicals, and operas, including 10 collaborations with the King’s Head Theatre and the Olivier-nominated La bohème (Best New Opera Production, 2018). The company remains committed to fostering underrepresented voices, particularly supporting women and Queer creatives, while facilitating collaboration between emerging and established artists.
Darren graduated from the National Film and Television School (NFTS) with a postgraduate diploma in Intimacy Coordination. This specialised training enhances his ability to create safe, respectful environments for actors, ensuring authentic and empowered performances in intimate scenes.
With a focus on innovative storytelling and meaningful collaboration, Darren continues to push creative boundaries as a writer, director, intimacy coordinator and producer, bringing stories to life with depth, authenticity and impact.
