Daniel L. Martin

Daniel is the recipient of the prestigious BBC Film Scholarship. A graduate of the National Film and Television School’s Directing Fiction course (2025), he is known for crafting immersive cinematic worlds that balance delicate poeticism with a looming sense of dread.

With a foundation in production design, Daniel is a meticulous world-builder, shaping films that are as visually evocative as they are narratively compelling. His work is filled with rich visual texture and imaginative creative choices, often featuring surreal and uncanny imagery. A lover of imaginary creatures, he frequently incorporates them into his films, using them as both narrative and symbolic elements. Committed to the artistry of practical effects, he strives to capture the extraordinary in-camera, preserving the tangible weight of his worlds.

His storytelling is steeped in the influences of Japanese cinema, particularly the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and Satoshi Kon. A genre filmmaker at heart, his work spans horror, mystery, fantasy, and thriller, enveloping audiences in richly atmospheric and sinister narratives. His aim is always to create films that remain accessible to audiences while inviting them into a world of mystery and intrigue.

CREDITS:
Writer/Director - NEEDLETEETH - Feature in development
Writer/Director - Sunset on Pluto - 2025 - NFTS
Writer/Director - NEEDLETEETH (Short) - 2025 - NFTS
Co-Writer/Director - I'm Afraid of You - 2024 - NFTS
Director - There's Something in the Water - 2023 - NFTS
Writer/Director - Comforting a Dying Rabbit - 2023 - CANIVID & DNA
Director - Red Flags Campaign Film - 2023 - Doncaster Council & CANIVID & Youth HUB
Writer/Director - Inheritance - 2022
Director - The Doncaster Offer Campaign Film - 2022 - Doncaster Council & CANIVID
Director - Answers - 2021
Writer/Director - Paper Planes - 2019 - Northern Film School
Writer/ Director - Emerald Bank - 2018 - Northern Film School
Director - No Man's Land - 2018 - Northern Film School
Writer/ Director - Liquorice - 2017 - Northern Film School

TRAINING:
MA Directing Fiction - The National Film & Television School
BA Hons Filmmaking - The Northern Film School