Pia Derya
Director / Writer / Producer
Pia Derya is a director, writer and actor originally from Turkiye, who has been based in Australia since 2015. With a background in acting and writing, Pia’ s passion ultimately led her towards directing and writing, where she found her true calling. Her acting credits include roles in major films like George Miller’s " Three Thousand Years of Longing " and a leading part in Bill Bennett’s "The Way, My Way".
Pia’s experience also extends to assistant directing, having worked on several feature films, including Bahman Ghobadi’s " No One Knows About Persian Cats", which won the Special Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2024, Pia made her directorial debut with "Sleeping Beauties",a film she also wrote, which earned her accolades for Best Director, Best Drama and Best Film at the AWFF 2024. The film has been recognized at prestigious festivals such as Clermont Ferrand Film Festival Market Picks 2024, Flickerfest 2024, St Kilda Film Festival 2024 and CinefestOz 2024.
Her follow-up short film, " The Disconnected ", premiered at the 2024 Sydney Film Festival, where it was a finalist for the Dendy Award. Pia was granted a Sundance Collab scholarship to further develop her script "Lights, Setbacks, Action". Currently, Pia is developing her debut feature film script under the mentorship of acclaimed director and writer Glendyn Ivin and esteemed actress , director and writer Leah Purcell.
Awards & Nominations
BTS
Press
Interview with Pia Derya Thunderbolt, director of the AWFF-winning short film Sleeping Beauties
One of the films that I enjoyed was Sleeping Beauties (2023). Pia Derya Thunderbolt won Best Director, Best Drama and Best Film for her debut short film, which she also produced and acted in. I had the opportunity to speak to Pia, learning about her journey as a creative and what she hopes to achieve post-Sleeping Beauties.
Read MorePia Derya, Leah Purcell and Tracey Corbin-Matchett were among those honoured at the AWFF 2024 awards.
Pia Derya won Best Director and Best Dramatic film for Sleeping Beauties her 14-minute debut short film which she also wrote and starred in. Her follow-up short The Disconnected was also a Top 10 Finalist for the Dendy Awards for Best Short Film at Sydney Film Festival.
Read MoreThe Australian Women’s Film Festival 2024 not only celebrated achievements but also reinforced the importance of continuing to elevate women’s voices in the film industry, ensuring a more inclusive and representative future for all
Proudly supported by the M&C Saatchi Group, the 2024 Australian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF) lit up Sydney last night with a celebration of female talent both in front of and behind the camera. The event honoured trailblazing women who are redefining the film industry and breaking barriers for future generations.
Read MoreSBS Radio Turkish
7 years ago, actress Pia Derya, who migrated from Istanbul to Sydney, has been working in the Australian film industry for the last few years, and this time she appears as a director.
Read MoreSBS Radio Turkish
Actress Pia Derya, who migrated from Istanbul, won the Best Director, Best Drama and Best Film awards at AWFF 2024 for her short film shot in Sydney.
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