Period Piece

Chiagoziém Okonkwo recently graduated from UCLA where she studied Psychology and Film, Television and Digital Media. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts but grew up in Lagos and Abuja Nigeria. Her identity as a young Nigerian-American woman has provided her with a rich and diverse perspective of the world and has colored her journey so far. Her multicultural upbringing has also allowed her to cultivate a strong sense of empathy, cultural understanding, and adaptability. She is interested in documentaries, historical fiction and stories that are fiction rooted in non-fiction. She also has an interest in social psychology research in communities that have been underrepresented, misrepresented or negatively affected by research in the past. She is passionate about combining her interests in filmmaking and research to showcase the amazing stories of these communities because she believes in the power of film to shed light on the untold narratives and challenges they face. Becoming a Fulbright semi-finalist has been one of her preliminary steps towards her long-term goal of establishing a psychology research institute and a film production company back in her home, Nigeria. Her debut film, Period Piece, tells the story of a young girl navigating the complexities of womanhood and cultural expectations in Nigeria, and it serves as a reflection of her commitment to telling nuanced, culturally resonant stories through film.