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Dean Francis

 

Dean Francis is a twice-AACTA-nominated filmmaker whose work straddles the line between bold genre cinema and intimate queer storytelling. A graduate of AFTRS with a Master of Arts in Directing, Dean made his directing debut with the supernatural thriller ROAD TRAIN (released internationally as ROAD KILL), before directing DROWN, which became a festival hit, winning seven international awards and securing theatrical releases in the USA, Germany, and Australia.

 

Over nearly two decades, Dean’s films have screened in over 200 international festivals. As a cinematographer, he has collaborated with some of Australia’s most exciting filmmakers, including Craig Boreham on LONESOME and Georgina Haig on ASHES, both of which were AACTA-nominated.

 

Dean’s third feature as director (and first as writer/director), BODY BLOW, is a neon-noir crime thriller set in Sydney’s gay district and inspired by his real-life experiences. Fiercely independent, the film has been picked up by an international slate of distributors and will premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2025 ahead of a global festival run and multi-territory theatrical release.

 

Through his studio JJ Splice Artists, Dean nurtures the next generation of actors and filmmakers, building on his teaching experience at Australia’s finest institutions including AFTRS and NIDA. He also oversees the commercial arm of JJ Splice, whose clients have included Uber, eBay, and NSW Health. His work is united by a fearless engagement with desire, power, and identity — films that don’t flinch, and don’t play safe.