ABOUT

ABOUT

Dillon M. Banda is a film director and cinematographer who recently won the award for Best International Director at the 2020 Oregon Documentary Film Festival, with his short documentary film 'Ashima'. Dillon has also been awarded Merit for Best Documentary at The One Club for Creativity's 100th ADC Awards, and shortlisted for 4 Berlin Commercial Awards, a Ciclope Asia Award, a Ciclope Africa Award and the Kinsale Shark Award for Best Cinematography with the same film. He previously won the award for Best Cinematography at the 2019 Oregon Documentary Film Festival with his short documentary film 'Belong'.

Born in Zambia, raised in Europe and currently living in Asia, Dillon brings a unique sensibility and heightened cultural sensitivity to his work. A love for analogue photography continues to hone his eye and inform the keen attention to cinematography and composition that typifies his films. His films also often blur the line between narrative and documentary, albeit with a consistently cinematic aesthetic.

Dillon studied music technology with digital arts at the University of Hull in Northern England, earning himself a B.A.(Hons).

AWARDS / NOMINATIONS / FESTIVALS

2021

The One Club for Creativity's 100th ADC Awards - Awarded Merit for Best Documentary - 'Ashima'

Ciclope Asia Awards - Finalist in the No Logo category - 'Ashima'

Ciclope Africa Awards - Finalist in the No Logo category - 'Ashima'

Kinsale Shark Awards - Shortlisted for Best Cinematography - 'Ashima'

The 10th Jozi Film Festival - Official Selection - 'Ashima'

Oregon Short Film Festival - Nominated for Best International Film - 'Ashima'

London's 3rd Papaya Rocks Film Festival - Official Selection - 'Belong'

2020

Oregon Documentary Film Festival - Winner of Best International Director - 'Ashima'

Berlin Commercial Awards - Shortlisted for the Cultural Impact, Cinematography, Unscripted and New Generation awards - 'Ashima'

Georgia Documentary Film Festival - Nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Documentary Film - 'Belong'

Summer in the South Film Festival - Nominated for Best Documentary - 'Spirit'

Georgia Shorts Film Festival - Nominated for Best International Film - 'Spirit'

Georgia Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection - 'Belong'

Buenos Aires International Documentary Film Festival (FIDBA) - Official Selection - 'Spirit'

Birmingham Southern College's Inaugural Hilltop Film Festival - Official Selection - 'Ashima'

Asian Film Festival, Los Angeles - Official Selection - 'Ashima'

2019

Oregon Documentary Film Festival - Winner of Best Cinematography - 'Belong'

Tokyo Genre Celebration Festival - Nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Horror Short - 'Disinter'

Sydney Lift-Off Film Festival - Official Selection - 'Disinter'

2018

FilmBath Festival - Official Selection - 'Spirit'

All Animals are Equal - Group Exhibition - 'Spirit'

Future Shorts Spring Season 2018 - Screening - 'Spirit'

For Lack of a Better World - Screening - 'Ghosts'