Dean Francis

Currently teaching at Screenwise

Dean Francis graduated with a Master of Arts in Directing from the Australian Film
Television and Radio School where he won the Australian Screen Directors
Association Award for Best Directed Drama in recognition of his short Afterlife.
Dean has directed fifteen short films which have had over a hundred film festival
screenings and won numerous awards.
In 2001, Dean co-directed, co-wrote, produced and edited the short feature Crazy
Richard which premiered at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and was
released in the US on DVD through Ariztical Entertainment. Also included on the
DVD release were two half-hour episodes of the internet sitcom I Can’t Even Think
Straight! which Dean wrote, directed and produced.
Prior to attending the AFTRS Dean completed an Advanced Diploma in
Cinematography at the Institute of Lens Arts Australia and also worked as a field
producer for ABC Television’s youth digital arm Fly TV.
As an actor, Dean has appeared in numerous roles on the stage and screen,
including the popular soap Neighbors.
Dean’s AFTRS graduating film Vermin (23 min) made it’s world premiere at the
prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, was nominated for an Australian
Directors Guild Award and screened at the Palm Springs and Revelation Film
Festivals as well picking up two awards at the Sydney Underground Film Festival.
Currently, Dean is developing a slate of film and television projects.
Selected Filmography:
The Beat (2007) 9 min , Vermin (2006) 22 min, Deadline (2006) 5 min, Damage
(2006) 48 min (TV Pilot), Afterlife (2005) 9 min, Go Fight Yourself (2005) 45 sec,
Boy’s Grammar (2005) 8 min, Transgression (2004) 7 min, Too Little Justice
(2004) 5 min, Crazy Richard (2002) 64 min, I Can’t Even Think Straight! (2000) 58
min (TV Pilot) , Dupion (2000) 11 min, Dysposia (1999) 21 min, Escape from Hell
(1998) 9 min, Cult of Beauty 11 min (1998)

Biography

QUALIFICATIONS
Master of Arts, Film and Television (Directing) - Australian Film Television and Radio School, 2006
Apple Certified Trainer, Final Cut Pro 6 - Apple Australia, 2007
Advanced Diploma in Cinematography - The Institute of Lens Arts Australia, 1999
Victorian Certificate of Education - Ivanhoe Grammar School, Victoria, 1997
WORK HISTORY – TUTORING
2006-ongoing

Freelance Tutor, Metro Screen
Courses:
• Certificate IV in Film and Video, Directing Tutor
Teaching theory and practice of screen directing and mentoring students through the
production of two short films.
• Certificate IV in Film and Video, Screenwriting Tutor
Teaching the principals of dramatic screen storytelling, running script workshops and
script editing student work for production.
• DET Documentary Filmmaking Scholarship, Post-Production Tutor
Teaching all aspects of the post-production process and guiding students through the
completion of 7-minute documentaries. Software taught includes Final Cut Pro,
Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro and Photoshop CS2

• Final Cut Pro Fundamentals & Final Cut Pro Intermediate

Apple Accredited Training in Final Cut Pro 6

Directing Sex ScenesA 2-day course exploring how to create and capture intimacy on the screen.
• Digital Micro Movie Workshop
Three-day intensive beginners filmmaking workshop. Includes tutoring in Final Cut Pro,
Sony Z1P HDV Camera, general directing and visual storytelling principals
• Songlines Workshop, Post-Production Tutor
Includes tuition in GarageBand, iMovie, Soundtrack Pro and Final Cut Pro
• Channel Free Youth Filmmaking Workshops
Three-day intensive filmmaking workshop for 11-16 year olds, during which students
produce two 5 minute original short films. Includes tutoring in Final Cut Pro and
Cannon XL-1 Video Camera
• Metro Mobile Unit Workshops, Editing tutor
Includes tutoring in Final Cut Pro, Sundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro and Photoshop CS2
2006-ongoing
Freelance Tutor, Cinewest
Teaching filmmaking principals to high school media studies teachers in NSW
2001 - 2004
Short Course Tutor, University of Melbourne Student Union
Courses: Filmmaking on a Budget, Cinematography on a Budget
2000-2001
Tutor, IF Magazine Break and Enter Initiative

Delivering screen storytelling workshops in over 40 Victorian High Schools

2 of 5
2 of 5
WORK HISTORY – PROFESSIONAL MENTORING
2007 Directing Mentor, Metro Screen Lester Bostock Indigenous Filmmaking Scheme
Executive Producer: David Opitz; Project: Flower Boy; Filmmaker: Daniel Randall
(Mentoring the creative and technical aspects of directing a 6-minute film)
2007 Directing Mentor, STRAY
Executive Producer: Channel Free (Metro Screen) and Twenty 10
(Assisted the conceptualization and production of a 14-minute film by Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual
and Transgender Youth at risk of homelessness)
2006 Mentor Director, DEADLINE
Executive Producer: Jenny Shale, Loganleigh High School ‘Footprints in Film’ Initiative with
Griffith University
(Facilitated the production by socially disadvantaged indigenous students of a 7-minute film
based on the students’ experiences)
WORK HISTORY – FILMMAKING (SELECTED)
2006 Writer / Director
Vermin - Short Drama (22 minutes)
Producer: Justin Davies
Production Company: Australian Film Television and Radio School
Nominated for an Australian Directors Guild Award
2005 Director
Afterlife - Short Drama (9 minutes)
Producer: Justin Davies
Writer: Rozlyn Clayton-Vincent
Production Company: Australian Film Television and Radio School.
2005 Director
Boys Grammar - Short Drama (7 minutes)
Producer: Justin Davies
Writer: Rozlyn Clayton-Vincent
Production Company: Australian Film Television and Radio School
Released on DVD in the USA through Picture This! Entertainment and in Australia through Queer Screen
2004 Writer / Director
Transgression – Documentary (6 minutes)
Producer: Katherine Shortland
Production Company: Australian Film Television and Radio School
Broadcast on SBS Television and on Logo TV (USA)
2004 Director
Too Little Justice – Short Drama (7 minutes)
Writer: Marcus Waters
Producer: Justin Davies
Production Company: Australian Film Television and Radio School (mentored by Ten Network)
Broadcast on SBS Television
2002 Co-Director / Co-Writer / Producer / Editor
Crazy Richard – Short Feature (64 minutes)
Co Director / Co-Writer: Katrina Mathers
Production Company: jj splice
Released on DVD in North America through Ariztical Entertainment and in Australia through Out Video
2002 Director, Australian Unit
Move – Feature Film (100 minutes)
Producer: Pietro Jona
2000 Director / Writer / Producer
I Can’t Even Think Straight - Internet Television Series (2 X 24 minute episodes)

Production Company: jj splice

Released on DVD in North America through Ariztical Entertainment.
2000 Writer / Director / Editor
Dupion - Short Drama (9 minutes)
Producer: Paula Gleeson
Broadcast on NBC Television
1999 - Writer / Director / Editor
Dysposia - Short film (21 minutes)
Co-producer: Karen Ford
1998 Writer / Director / Cinematographer / Editor
Escape from Hell - Short Drama (9 minutes)
Co-producer: Karen Ford
Broadcast on SBS Television
1998 Writer / Director / Cinematographer
Cult of Beauty - Short Drama (11 minutes)
Producer: Karen Ford

AWARDS
2007 Vermin Best Narrative Drama – Sydney Underground Film Festival
2007 Vermin Best Actor (Damon Gameau) – Sydney Underground Film Festival
2007 Vermin Nominated, Best Student Short Film - Australian Directors Guild Awards
2007 Boys Grammar Best Film - Newtown Film Festival
2006 Afterlife Best Directed Drama Award - Australian Screen Directors Association
2006 Afterlife Gold Award - Australian Cinematographers Society (Cinematographer: Simon
Gray)
2006 Afterlife Nominated, Best Sound in a Student Film - Motion Picture Sound Editors of
America (Sound designer: Christopher Stevenson)
2006 Vermin Gold Award – Australian Cinematographers Society
(Cinematographer: Simon Gray)
2004 Too Little Justice Bluebell Honor Award - Auburn Festival for Children and Young Adults
1999 Escape from Hell Best Student Film - St Kilda Film Festival
1999 Escape from Hell Development Award - Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival
1998 Cult of Beauty Best Cinematography - Watch My Shorts Film Festival
(Cinematographer: Dean Francis)
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
2007 Judge, Short Film Competition, Real Life Film Festival
2007 Selection Committee, Raw Nerve (AFC)
2006 Participant, Berlinale Talent Campus, Berlin Film Festival
2006 Selection Committee, Flickerfest International Short Film Festival
2001-2002 Field Producer, ABC TV Melbourne (Fly TV)

1999-2000 Festival Director, Watch My Shorts Film Festival (Melbourne)

1999-2000 Selection Committee, Melbourne International Film Festival

FESTIVALS AND SCREENINGS (SELECTED):
300 Seconds Film Festival, Sydney Australia (Too Little Justice, 2004)
Alandalesgai Film Festival, Madrid, Spain (Transgression, 2007)
Arcipelago Film Festival 13°, Rome, Italy (Move)
Auburn International Film & Video Festival for Children and Young Adults, Sydney Australia (Too Little Justice, 2004
& Boys Grammar, 2005)
Ausfest, Brisbane, Australia - Opening Night (Crazy Richard, 2002)
Australian International Film Festival, Melbourne, Australia (Boys Grammar and Afterlife, 2006)
Belgrade International Student Film Festival, (Escape from Hell, 1999)
Berlin Asia-Pacific Film Festival, Germany (Transgression 2006)
Bondi Short Film Festival, Sydney, Australia (Afterlife, 2007)
Club Cinema, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Crazy Richard, 2004)
Cinewest International Experimental Film Festival, Sydney, Australia (Dupion, 2003)
DocNZ, New Zealand International Documentary Film Festival, Wellington (Transgression, 2005)
Dublin Underground Film Festival, Ireland (Crazy Richard, 2003)
Flickerfest, Sydney, Australia (Escape from Hell, 1999 & Afterlife, 2006)
Frameline, San Fransico Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, USA (Escape from Hell, 2000 Boys Grammar 2006)
Hannover Film Festival, Germany (Dyspisia & Escape from Hell 2000)
Hollywood Film Festival, USA (Afterlife, 2006)
Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Boys Grammar, 2006)
ImaginATIVE Film Festival, Toronto, Candada (Too Little Justice, 2005)
Inside Out, Toronto International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Canada (Escape from Hell 2000 & Transgression
2006)
In the Realm of the Senses Film Festival, Melbourne, Australia (Cult of Beauty, 2000 & Escape From Hell, 2000 &
Crazy Richard 2002)
International Women´s Film Festival Dortmund, Cologne, Germany (Transgression, 2006)
Japanese Film Festival (Boys Grammar, 2005 & Vermin 2007)
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic (Vermin 2006)
LesGaiCineMad: International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Madrid, Spain (Transgression, 2006)
Lisbon Gay And Lesbian Film Festival, Portugal (Crazy Richard, 2002)
London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, United Kingdom (Crazy Richard, 2002 & Transgression 2006)
Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, USA (Transgression, 2005)
Mannheim Film Festival, Germany (Move)
Melbourne Super 8 Film Festival, Australia (Cult of Beauty, 1999)
Melbourne Queer Film and Video Festival, Australia (Escape from Hell & Dysposia, 2000 & Transgression, 2005 &
Boys Grammar 2006)
Melbourne Underground Film Festival, Australia (Crazy Richard, 2000)
Melbourne Fridge Festival, Australia (Escape from Hell 1999 & Cult of Beauty 1999)
Mix Brazil, Sao Paulo (Escape from Hell, 2000 Crazy Richard, 2002)
Mostra de Valencia Cinema del Mediterrani, Italy (Move)
NAIDOC Legal Rights Conference, Sydney Australia - Opening Night (Too Little Justice 2004)
National Student Film and Video Festival, Sydney, Australia (Escape from Hell, 1999 (Finalist), Dysposia)
NBC TV Mind Ignite, USA (Dupion, 2003)
National Screening Tour, Australia – AFTRS (Transgression, Too Little Justice, Boys Grammar, 2005 & Vermin,
Afterlife 2006)
NewFest - New York Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, USA (Transgression & Boys Grammar, 2006)
Newtown Film Festival, Sydney, Australia (Boys Grammar, Escape from Hell, Cult of Beauty, 2007)
Out-In-Africa Film Festival (Escape from Hell & Dysposia, 2000 & Crazy Richard, 2003)
Out Takes, Dallas Film Festival, USA (Boys Grammar, 2006)
Outfest, LosAngeles, USA (Escape from Hell, 2000 & Transgression 2005)

Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, USA (Vermin & Afterlife, 2006)
Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, USA (Crazy Richard, 2002 Transgression, 2005 Boys Grammar
2006)
Queer Zagreb, Croatia (Crazy Richard, 2003)
Queer as Film, Boise, USA (Boys Grammar, 2006)
QueerDocs Film Festival, Sydney Australia – Opening Night (Transgression, 2004)
Rainbow Vision Film Festival, Newcastle, Australia (Transgression 2005)
Reel Affirmations 9, Washington DC, USA (Escape from Hell, 1999)
Reeling Film Festival 2006, USA (Boys Grammar)
Revelation Perth International Film Festival, Australia (Afterlife, 2006 & Vermin, 2007)
San Fransico IndieFest Film Festival, USA (Boys Grammar, 2006)
Semarang International Film Festival, Indonesia (Crazy Richard, 2003)
Shorts Film Festival, Adelaide, Australia (Afterlife, 2006)
Short Soup International Short Film and Food Festival, Sydney, Australia (Boys Grammar, 2005)
Show Me Shorts Film Festival, New Zealand (Afterlife and Vermin, 2007)
Strasburg Film Festival, Germany, (Move, 2004)
St Kilda Film Festival, Melbourne, Australia (Escape from Hell, 1999 & Dysposia, 2000 & Dupion, 2003 & Too Little
Justice, 2004 & Boys Grammar, Transgression, 2006)
St George International Film Festival, Canada (Vermin, 2007)
St Tropez Film Festival, France (Boy’s Grammar, 2005)
Sydney Underground Film Festival (Vermin, 2007)
Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival, Australia (Escape from Hell 1999 & Dysposia 2000 & Crazy Richard 2003 &
Transgression 2005, Boys Grammar, 2006)
Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, USA (Boys Grammar, 2007)
Temcula Valley International Film and Music Festival, USA (Afterlife, 2007)
The Other Side Film Festival, Newcastle, United Kingdom (Crazy Richard, 2002)
TOFFIFEST Torun Film Festival, Poland (Vermin, 2007)
Turin International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Italy (Escape from Hell, 1999)
Wingspan FilmFest, Tuscon, USA (Transgression 2006)
XPOSED International Queer Short Film Festival, Berlin, Germany (Boys Grammar, 2006)