Biography
Iola Nguyen is a multi-award-winning artist (actress, writer, producer, director, songwriter) and the CEO/Founder of Meet Key People,an all-in-one platform that connects talent to opportunity across music, film, gaming, tech, and more, putting talent before popularity.
She was born in Phuoc Long, Vietnam, and was adopted into a French family. She grew up in Pyrénées-Orientales in Perpignan, where she practiced piano, contemporary dance, and martial arts.
In 2012, she moved to London and started working in the Entertainment Industry as a Freelance Photographer/Videographer/Editor for various Fashion Shows (including the Fashion Week) and other Events (such as: The Nollywood Film Festival).
In 2016, her work as a model is published in « Femina », a French Photography Book by Marco Helena.
In 2017, she developed, produced and directed a Comedy web series on her own, called: "It's all I am". The first episode achieved 20000 views on YouTube in only a day. In 2018, she signed with an Acting Agent. In 2019, she won a CAAFAS Award for a Music Video that she has produced and directed.
In 2020, she signed with a U.S Music Publisher in Los Angeles and two of her songs have been used on the hit American soap opera "The Young and the Restless" on CBS. The same year, she was a Quarter-Finalist in the Big Break Screenwriting Contest for her comedy TV pilot "How to be Cool" which also made the second round in the Austin Film Festival in September 2021 and her thriller TV pilot "Talion" was in the top 20 of the Coverfly Red List in June 2021. In December 2021, she won the Creative Business Award by Women's Business Club (awarded by BAFTA nominee Dan Gable). In January 2022, she was awarded Double Semi-Finalist in the prestigious 2021 UK Songwriting Contest and also reached the Semi-Final of the famous 2021 International Songwriting Competition. Shortly after that, she wrote, produced and directed a Short Film called "The Dormant Truth" that won 2 awards of recognition for "Best Women Filmmakers and Best Short" at the Indie Film Fest and at the Best Shorts Competition. As well as 2 gold awards "Best Thriller" (at the London Movie Awards and at the New York Movie Awards) and 1 silver award "Best Director". (At the Paris Film Awards). She was also nominated for a L.A Independent Women Film Award (Best Director).
In April 2022, she was selected for a mentorship program from Coverfly (in partnership with "Act Two" by Tasha Huo : ("Tomb Raider animated series", Marvel's upcoming feature "Red Sonja" writer) Her mentor is Emmy-nominated Hollywood screenwriter Nneka Gerstle ("High School Musical", "Just Beyond"...) In June 2022, she was announced finalists in the Arts & Culture Category for the 2022 AWA (Asian Women of Achievement Award) in association with NatWest. In July 2022, she joins the panel of judges for the UK Business Awards. In August 2022, she won the Bronze Stevie Award in the "Creative Executive of The Year" category in the 2022 International Business Awards and has been asked to judge the next 2022 Stevie Awards ("Women in Business").
In August 2024, She won the Gold Stevie Award (International Business Awards) for Best Entrepreneur in Entertainment and media, followed by a Bronze Stevie Award (Women in Business) for Start up of the Year (consumer services). She was also finalist for the 2024 French Trophies (Innovation Category) and the 2024 Women of the Future Awards. (Entrepreneur Category)
In 2025, her first comedy feature, Made in Vietnam, is completed (with producer Jenni Trang Le attached) and is currently being pitched. She also has begun the production of her video game, Forgotten World of Fantasy, where she serves as writer/game director/composer.
