ABOUT DOMINIC MURPHY

“Some white guy who’s won lots of awards for making beautiful stuff with naturalistic acting.” - Vera Chok, Feminist

At the age of 23, Dominic began his career directing on Janet Street-Porter’s pioneering youth current affairs programme Network 7, which won a BAFTA for originality and helped redefine the language of factual television. Over the next decade, he directed a wide range of arts and documentary programming, much of it within the early experimental remit of Channel 4. Highlights include The Incredibly Strange Film Show, a portrait of cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, a horror film documentary researched by Mark Kermode, and provocative factual segments for True or False and Sex Talk. This early work, blending documentary and dramatic techniques, laid a foundation for his distinctive approach to visual storytelling.

During this period, Dominic also trained intensively in Method Acting with Jack Waltzer, a renowned teacher whose work is rooted in the Stanislavski system and the Actor’s Studio. Waltzer, who coached actors such as Dustin Hoffman and Sigourney Weaver, had a profound influence on Dominic’s approach to performance, introducing him to a way of working that emphasised emotional truth, presence and lived experience. This training deeply shaped how Dominic collaborates with actors and informs his visual and narrative style.

Dominic later transitioned into directing commercials, quickly gaining recognition for his cinematic style and emotional boldness. He was soon listed in Campaign magazine’s “10 Hottest Directors in the World.” His work for brands including Volkswagen, Sony, Adidas, Virgin and the BBC won multiple international awards, including two Cannes Gold Lions, D&AD Pencils, and the Andy’s Grand Prix.

His feature debut, White Lightnin’, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009 and was selected for Berlin, Edinburgh and other major festivals. The film won multiple awards, including Best Director at Dinard and Best Film at Mumbai International Film Festival (with a jury headed by Paul Schrader), and was included in Mark Kermode’s Top Ten Films of the Year. The Guardian called it "demented genius" and Edinburgh International Film Festival described it as "jaw-dropping, a true original."

Following the release of White Lightnin’, Dominic took a step back from mainstream production to explore other dimensions of creativity, performance and personal development. Over the next decade, he immersed himself in mindfulness-based work, training with Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village community and the Triratna Buddhist movement. He began running workshops internationally — blending elements of performance, storytelling and contemplative practice — and collaborated with artists, actors and non-professionals in a variety of settings. This period expanded his approach to story, acting, and process, and laid the ground for a return to filmmaking with renewed depth.

As part of this renewed focus, Dominic recently completed a Master’s degree in Screenwriting at the University of Manchester.

Current Projects

Dominic is currently developing a range of original film and television projects. His upcoming work includes Retreat, a character-driven drama series exploring spirituality, survival and transformation; Art Squad, a stylish crime drama set in the world of stolen art; Soppy C*nt, a short film examining male vulnerability beneath a tough exterior; and Mr Big, a visually rich coming-of-age feature set in 1979, about a fatherless boy’s search for identity, independence and connection. His wider slate includes early development on The Boy Who Could Find Things, a psychological thriller with a surreal edge. Across all projects, Dominic brings a focus on emotional depth, cinematic storytelling and unexpected human connection.