Charlie Dewulf Ouders, a 29-year-old individual, is currently in the headlines following the tragic loss of both parents to suicide. Despite maintaining an outwardly jovial demeanour, Charlie continues to grapple with deep-seated grief and sorrow. Through the aid of therapy, the support of friends, and maintaining a sense of humour, Dewulf finds some solace.
Famous for an eclectic wardrobe filled with yellow, blue, and red, and a penchant for salty crisps, Charlie’s unique character traits extend beyond personal style. Dewulf is also the founder of MACKY, a collaborative platform designed to connect, inform, and inspire creative minds engaged in youth-related media.
As part of their healing process, Charlie has adopted an unusual coping strategy, playing bingo with condolence cards. Dewulf’s parents’ suicides sparked a surge in interest about their family life, yet information remains scarce. In a poignant moment on ‘The Smartest Person in the World’, Dewulf recounted the shocking suicide of their mother, a woman they believed had an answer for everything.
The back-to-back loss of both parents within a span of two months is discussed, with Dewulf attributing their steady recovery to ongoing therapy. Charlie is also known for their recent work, ‘Love Tips to Myself’, which has received a nomination from Ha! from Humo. Their appearance on ‘The Smartest Person in the World’ has also been highlighted.
They assert that clear boundaries are often overlooked in the film industry. During the same talk show, Charlie Dewulf openly identifies as non-binary, expressing that their identity does not conform strictly to male or female norms. They share that in their youth, the fear of losing people they cared about made them reluctant to embrace their true identity.
The ethnicity and origin of Charlie’s parents remain undisclosed as Dewulf has not publicly discussed their family history. Known for their contributions to films such as Eefje Donkerblauw, Ampersand, and Brak, they have showcased their talent as a director, writer, and filmmaker.
Furthermore, with support from the Flemish Audiovisual Fund, Dewulf crafted two films, Margo & The Maximarket and Mitten & the Minimen. Affirming their non-binary identity, Dewulf prefers the pronouns “they/them” and adopts the gender-neutral title “Mx” over traditional titles such as Mr, Miss, or Mrs.
Beyond film making, Dewulf’s creative endeavours also include creating VR experiences and developing a web series. They founded MACKY (Media & Audiovisual Creatives for Kids and Youth) in the Gent Area to unite various creatives dedicated to youth media. The platform aims to champion youth storytelling through the collective efforts of writers, directors, and cross-media storytellers.
Dewulf is also the founder of “Popping Bubbles,” a venture committed to challenging societal inequality, bursting societal bubbles, and dismantling ignorance. With a Master’s in Audiovisual Arts, Dewulf contributes to Potemkino as a scriptwriter, director, and digital marketing producer, according to their LinkedIn profile. As a director, they aim to accurately represent young people’s world, with a particular emphasis on mental health.
