Daniel Kokotajlo
Directing
Biography
Daniel Kokotajlo (born 1980 or 1981) is a British film writer and director. He has also used the name Dan P. K. Smyth. He wrote and directed the 2017 film Apostasy, which reflects his own experience of growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, and the 2023 film Starve Acre, based on Andrew Michael Hurley's novel of the same name. Apostasy won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain award for "Best First Screenplay", and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer in 2018, and for six British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). 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.
Known For
A father-to-be tries to figure out what is happening with all this AI insanity, and explores the most powerful technology humanity has ever created... and what's at stake if we get it wrong.
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist
A faithful Jehovah's Witness is forced to shun her own sister because of a religious transgression. As the separation draws out, she starts to question the meaning of God's love.
Apostasy
When their son starts acting strangely, a couple unwittingly allow dark and sinister forces into their home, awakening a long-dormant ancient evil rooted deep in the countryside.
Starve Acre
A mother quietly struggles to deal with her aggressive teenage son who refuses to do anything except play online computer games. An honest and darkly comic story about compulsion, mishaps, loneliness and family redemption.