Damien's journey began in Launceston, Tasmania, a city of approximately 60,000 people, where he developed a passion for films at a young age. As a teenager, he joined the local film society with his grandfather, fostering a lifelong appreciation for the art form. After completing his Arts/Law degree in Hobart, Damien moved to Sydney to join the Classification Board, the Australian equivalent of the US MPAA ratings board or the UK's BBFC.
As he settled into his new surroundings, Damien began making short films and soon enrolled in an MA in Directing at the Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS). This marked the beginning of a successful career in filmmaking.
Damien's first feature film, the survival thriller Killing Ground, premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in the iconic Midnight Section, where it received rave reviews. Critics praised the film's "straight-up, stripped-down suspenser" (Variety),"knife-edge performances and a terrifying premise executed with airtight verisimilitude... beautifully made and utterly disturbing" (The Guardian),and "an impressive, not-for-the-fainthearted feature debut that cleverly plays with narrative chronology and your central nervous system" (Rolling Stone).
Damien's second feature film, No Exit, was produced by Scott Frank (Queen's Gambit) for 20th Century Studios and premiered on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally on February 25, 2022. The film received praise from critics, with The Wrap calling it "An uncompromising nail-biter" and "A propulsive thriller... gripping and relentless" (Bloody Disgusting).
In addition to his feature films, Damien has also written and directed award-winning shorts that have screened at festivals worldwide, including the Venice Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, and the Melbourne International Film Festival. His work has also been featured online in YouTube/Scott Free's inaugural Your Film Festival.
