This is a hired event

Join us for a practical and honest conversation about the art of pitching your film to major funding bodies. We’ll explore what makes a project stand out in a crowded submissions pile, how to communicate your vision with clarity and confidence, and what funders are really looking for beyond a great idea. Whether you’re developing your first short or preparing a feature application, this talk will offer valuable insight into turning passion into a pitch that gets noticed.

Dustin Curtis Murphy is a multi-disciplined Oscar qualified short and feature narrative filmmaker.

His debut micro-budget sci-fi feature COYOTE (2023) starring Therica Wilson-Read (Netflix’s The Witcher) and & BIFA winner Ruhtxjiaïh Bèllènéa (The Last Tree) was nominated for Best Feature Film at the National Film Awards and won the Audience Award at the Romford Film Festival, and Best Director at the BIFA qualifying Unrestricted View Film Festival. It’s available to watch on Amazon in North America, and in the UK (under the title ‘“TELEPORT“).

As producer & EP, his short film highlights include the Oscar qualified WHAT MEN DO FOR LOVE (2024), and our slate of Kino Originals including SPACE DADDY (2025), OLYMPUS LOST (2025), EVOL (2024), & DON’T BURY IT (2024).

As a writer/director, his Short film highlights include the BIFA qualified EVERYTHING IS OUT TO GET ME (2023), SAMARITAN (2020) Winner: Best International Short at Sedona Film Festival, Winner: Grand Prize at The Weather Channel’s #EarthFilmChallenge, and FILTHY ANIMALS (2021) Shortlisted at Raindance.

Raised in Southern California, Dustin has been living in the UK since 2017.