Daina Oniunas-Pusić

Daina Oniunas-Pusić is a Croatian writer and director. She studied 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 for 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.

Her next project, a comedy short RHONNA AND DONNA, was selected from over 300 entrants by Creative England to be produced as part of their ‘Funny Girls’ initiative, in collaboration with Big Talk and Baby Cow. The film had its world premiere at FLICKERS’ Rhode Island and has since screened at multiple festivals including Telluride Film Festival and Aesthetica Short Film Festival where it won the inaugural Best Screenplay Award.  

Daina’s much anticipated debut feature film TUESDAY for A24 Film and BBC Film stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Arinze Kene and Lola Petticrew. It will premiere in 2023.