Daina O. Pusić is a Croatian multi award-winning writer and director based in London.  

She learnt her craft while studying film and television directing at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb before relocating to the U.K. to study at the London Film School. 

In 2013 Daina was the recipient of the Jelena Rajković award for best Croatian filmmaker under the age of 30, which led to her making her first professional short film “The Beast”. The project was selected and won the NISI MASA European Short Pitch in 2014. 

“The Beast” premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2015. It has since screened at over 30 festivals picking up numerous awards including the Golden Pram Award at Zagreb Film Festival, Jury Honourable Mention at Slamdance and Best Short Fiction at LA Film Festival, which enabled the film to be long-listed for an Academy Award. 

Her next project, a comedy short entitled “Rhonna & Donna”, was selected from over 300 by Creative England to be produced as part of their ‘Funny Girls’ initiative, in collaboration with Big Talk and Baby Cow. The film had it’s world premier at FLICKERS’ Rhode Island and has since screened at multiple festivals including the 43. Telluride Film Festival and the BAFTA qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival where it won the inaugural Best Screenplay Award. 

During the 2020. Covid lockdown Adobe Stock chose Daina, along with a select few, to create a short film made entirely from Adobe stock footage. The result was “We Fight but You’re Fabulous”; a project created entirely online and featured at the Adobe Stock Film Fest 2020.

Her first feature film “Tuesday” is backed by A24, BBC, BFI and Cinereach and will be premiering later this year.

Daina is represented by Marnie Podos at Under New Mgmt and Beth Swofford at CAA.