Damian Hempstead is an Australian writer, director, producer and actor, and the founder of independent filmmaking banner Damo & Tim Productions. With more than 15 years of professional experience as an actor across film, television and theatre, Damian has built his filmmaking craft through extensive on-set experience, formal intensive training and mentorship from some of Australia’s leading filmmakers and creative practitioners. Having performed professionally from the age of 8, Damian undertook intensive acting training with Actors Centre Australia and has continued to develop his craft through mentorship and coaching with Ben Mathews, Les Chantery, Kim Farrant, Yolanda Ramke, Miranda Harcourt, Anthony Miendl, Lisa Roberston, and Ivana Chubbuck. Expanding his focus behind the camera, he undertook intensive writing, directing and producing courses with award winning filmmakers Ben Mathews and Yolanda Ramke, further developing his approach to screen storytelling, directing performance and independent production.

Damian made his professional stage debut in Neil Gooding’s Oliver! alongside Wayne Scott Kermond, followed by appearing as Louis Leonowens with Lisa McCune in Opera Australia’s The King and I. His screen credits include the SBS miniseries Deep Water, The Gamers 2037 and several award winning independent short films. Most recently, he appeared opposite Jacob Elordi as Les Whittle in Justin Kurzel’s acclaimed Prime Video miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North. He has also been cast in Benjamin Mathews’ upcoming feature thriller The Act. In 2022, Damian was named Grand Winner for Best Song at the Cannes World Film Festival for his single Can’t Have You, which also received a nomination for Best Music Video. His experience across acting, music and filmmaking has shaped a multidisciplinary approach to directing grounded in performance, emotional authenticity and character focused storytelling.

Damian made his writing and directorial debut with BACKFOOT, which he wrote directed, produced and starred in under Damo & Tim Productions. The film premiered to a sold out audience of more than 200 guests at HOYTS Entertainment Quarter in Sydney before it’s worldwide release. BACKFOOT was subsequently featured in the inaugural print edition of The Hollywood Reporter Australia, with it’s digital platform also profiling Damian as an emerging Australian filmmaker. His follow up short film, UNBOUND, amassed more than 200,000 YouTube views within it’s first three months of release. His latest short film, Out of Step, marks his third production under Damo & Tim Productions and was shortlisted for Tropfest 2026 from more than 700 submissions.

Damian’s transition from actor to writer- director- producer reflects a commitment to creating ambitious Australian stories with strong emotional and thematic foundations. His work is driven by character focused storytelling and a passion for creating engaging, world-class and faith based purpose driven stories that explore Christian values through compelling and non-conforming narratives.

Through Damo & Tim Productions, Damian continues to develop his voice as an emerging Australian filmmaker, creating stories centred on character, family, identity, faith, forgiveness and redemption, with an emphasis on cinematic storytelling capable of connecting with audiences both in Australia and internationally.