Nell Hensey is a Filipino-Irish screenwriter and director from the west of Ireland. She is passionate about female-centric narratives or stories that explores unique cultural identities and coming-of-age themes. Nell was part of the TIFF Filmmaker Lab 2023 and has had projects supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, the Engine Shorts Film Scheme and Virgin Media Television.
Nell was recently part of the writers’ room for a series currently in development with Potboiler Productions.
She recently wrote and directed FALLING FOR THE LIFE OF ALEX WHELAN, based on the short story by Yan Ge, as part of RTÉ’s prestigious Storyland scheme which was subsequently broadcast on the channel.
Nell won the Virgin Media Discovers and Screen Ireland Short Film Competition for her film GOOD CHIPS, and was mentored by Lenny Abrahamson as part of this scheme. Set in 1980s Dublin, the film follows a family of Vietnamese immigrants struggling to run a chipper van. The film premiered at Dublin Film Festival and went on to win Best Short Film at Viet Film Fest 2023.
She won Best Director for her short Film BATHS at First Cut Film Festival and a Breakthrough Talent Award at Catalyst International Film Festival for her short TRY AND TOUCH.
Nell has worked as a Writer’s Room Assistant, a Showrunner’s Assistant and a Script Editor for a Netflix original series that is co-produced by Higher Ground, the Obamas’ production company. She is also an alumnus of WEFT Studio, a multidisciplinary artist group for POC creatives run by the Dublin Fringe Festival.