BIOGRAPHY

Daniel Monks is a young Australian filmmaker, actor & dancer. He is a graduate of the Australian Film, Television & Radio School (AFTRS) and PAC Screen Workshops, which culminated in him winning the award for Consistent Excellence. His short films have screened around the world at more than 35 film festivals, and have received numerous awards & honours; including having two shorts selected for Palm Springs International ShortFest 2011, making him one of only three filmmakers worldwide to receive that honour. He then had a third short selected for the festival the following year. He recently completed production on his first independent feature film Pulse, directed by Stevie Cruz-Martin, which he wrote, produced & played the lead in, alongside Caroline Brazier.

Daniel has trained as an actor in NYC & Sydney under Elizabeth Kemp, Jeneffa Soldatic & Lynette Sheldon. On top of starring in Pulse, he has acted in numerous short films including Gravel by Stevie Cruz-Martin and The Ducks by Julie Sam-Yue.

Daniel began his dance journey with the Catalyst Dance Masterclass Series 2013, an initiative of Accessible Arts, working with choreographers Philip Channells, Sue Healey & Dean Walsh, which culminated in the dance performance at Bangarra Studio, Second Skin. He recently participated in The Corner Dance Lab 2014 in Federal NSW, with leading choreographers & dancers from around Australia including Philip Channells & Gavin Webber. He is a recipient of the 2014 Amplify your Art grant, which has enabled him to be professionally mentored by Philip Channells // Dance Integrated Australia through a series of professional development workshops & residencies around Australia.

Photo: Stevie Cruz-Martin