Dupe Origin Productions
is a Greater Manchester-based award-winning independent film production company, founded in 2026 by King Davies Dogbe. Inspired by the extraordinary life journey of Dúpẹ́ Okundaye, the company creates emotionally driven stories centred on migration, identity, resilience, heritage, and the human spirit. Drawing from African storytelling traditions and real-life experiences, Dupe Origin Productions aims to turn survival into cinema and give voice to untold stories across generations.
The company gained recognition in 2026 with its short film In The Shadows 75, a powerful drama set during the turbulent migration routes through 1970s Libya. The film earned major recognition at Lift-Off Manchester 2026, where Dupe Origin Productions won awards including Best Director and Best Art Direction, further establishing the company as a rising force in independent cinema.
The Origin
Dupe Origin Productions was created to honour the extraordinary life of Dúpẹ́ Okundaye, a woman whose journey across continents, conflict, and survival became the foundation of a new generation of storytelling.
Born in Edo State, Nigeria, Dúpẹ́ endured the turmoil of the Nigerian Civil War, displacement, and loss, forging a resilience that would carry her through Libya, Yugoslavia, Italy, and eventually the United Kingdom.
From imprisonment to escape, survival became the foundation of her legacy. In Italy, she gave birth to her son, King Davies Dogbe, transforming hardship into love, motherhood, and hope.
Dupe Origin Productions exists to preserve stories like hers. stories of migration, resilience, sacrifice, identity, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. What began with one woman’s journey became a cinematic
vision rooted in truth, memory, and legacy.
The Founder
King Davies Osazenomwen Notie Dogbe is a bilingual actor, producer and writer. Born in Vicenza, Italy, he spent part of his early childhood in Benin City, Nigeria, where he was cared for by Christian caretakers while his mother navigated a challenging period for the family. He returned to Italy at age five, carrying the resilience and cultural grounding of those formative years.
Trained in the Lee Strasberg Method, King draws on personal experience and emotional memory to deliver authentic, emotionally layered performances. Hailing from a large Nigerian family, his grandfather was a respected trader with fifteen wives. His mother, the daughter of the seventh wife, later raised five children independently, instilling discipline, determination, and values that continue to shape King’s life and work.
A passionate advocate for African storytelling, King is the founder of Dupe Origin Productions, a company inspired by his mother and devoted to socially conscious, culturally resonant narratives. His work bridges cultures, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and legacy.
Continuing his evolution as a filmmaker, King’s work In The Shadows 75 received recognition at the Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions in Manchester,
further establishing his voice as an emerging storyteller with a deeply personal cinematic perspective
Style of Work
King is especially drawn to stories that delve into the complexities of human emotion, focusing on themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. For King, storytelling is an opportunity to reflect on the raw, unfiltered truths of the human experience, offering an authentic lens through which audiences can connect with characters and narratives on a deeper level.
His aim is to continue creating works that resonate with real-life struggles and explore the often painful realities of the human condition. The success of his debut film is a testament to his unique approach to storytelling, showcasing his ability to craft compelling narratives that speak to the heart.