Filmmaker of the Year winner: Dominic Danson
Posted on Sep 10, 2025 by Pro Moviemaker
Forty and fabulous
How his YouTube series Forty Minutes With put Dominic Danson on top in our annual Filmmaker of the Year contest
Dominic Danson isn’t chasing the algorithm. While the rest of the online video world scrambles to keep things short, fast and snackable, he’s been leaning hard in the other direction – slower, more spacious and deeply human. His YouTube series Forty Minutes With is a long-form, sit-down interview show that gives smart people the time and space to really say something. No clickbait cuts or viral gimmicks – just beautifully lit, broadcast-ready conversations, crafted with intent.
It’s a format that’s resonating with audiences, clients and industry insiders alike. Built from a decade of interview experience and a meticulous approach to independent production, Forty Minutes With is the culmination of a journey that started with journalism, traversed drama school, weathered a financial crash and then, eventually, wound its way through showreel production, marketing and a self-taught education in filmmaking.
Now, with a homegrown production company – Twelve Noon Films – he runs alongside his wife Jo, 41-year-old Danson is carving out a niche as a director and interviewer who understands story and structure. Like so many indie productions, it delivers high-end results with a small, yet agile crew. From branded content and commercial case studies to award-winning shorts and YouTube originals, his work is a masterclass in modern indie filmmaking: self-led and polished.
That’s why he was a clear winner in the YouTuber category of our annual awards, and why he was chosen as the overall MPB Filmmaker of the Year. The judges were blown away by his interview show that feels more broadcast-ready than most actual broadcast content.
“The show is produced to a proper TV standard,” begins Danson. “That’s very deliberate – we wanted it to be pick-up ready for streamers.” The series is a showcase of what he does best, capturing real people and telling stories with clarity, empathy and polish.
Though officially launched in 2022, the pair had been honing their craft behind the scenes for years. “We’d built up a bank of work just from interview-based content we’d done professionally. We just thought – let’s back ourselves and create our own thing.” And they did just that, launching new films just weeks after their daughter was born. “Apparently, having a baby and starting a business in the same year wasn’t stressful enough,” he jokes. But the momentum has never ceased. From their Suffolk base, they have travelled all over the UK and Europe – including London, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands – to shoot various projects.
Their niche is well-defined interviews and case studies with cinematic qualities. “A lot of our clients want something really specific and can’t afford to get it wrong,” says Danson. “So instead of hiring a local generalist, they hire us – the interview people – and we handle the whole thing. We travel light, shoot smart and bring it all home to work on post.”
They own the majority of the gear they use, including Sony A7S III and FX30 cameras for most projects, occasionally stepping up to Red or combining formats where needed. Forty Minutes With was shot mainly on Red with Sigma cine lenses, but Danson’s eye is firmly on Blackmagic for future episodes. “I’d love to shoot an entire season on Blackmagic,” he says. “We’ve made moves to see if we can make that happen. I just want that consistency, and the in-camera image is beautiful.”
His approach to editing is equally considered. Like many others, he’s made the jump from Adobe Premiere to DaVinci Resolve. “It’s just better. Everything’s in one place now – editing, grading, audio, even AI features like voice isolation and auto mix. It’s all there. I still use Adobe After Effects for motion graphics, but for everything else DaVinci is home.”
As a filmmaker who started out making showreels for drama school grads, then narrative fiction, doing zero-budget 48-hour film competitions, Danson admits he loves short films. “But interviews let you dig deeper into people and ideas,” he says.
It’s that authenticity, that subtle confidence in the subject matter, that makes Forty Minutes With so compelling. “I genuinely think long-form content is about to make a comeback. We’ve been trained to consume everything in two-minute bursts, but the more that happens, the more people are going to crave real conversations. Stuff that breathes.”
It helps that the team takes production values seriously – using Aputure lights, mics from Rode, Comica and Hollyland, plus Atomos monitors and recorders to maximise quality without unnecessary complexity. AF lenses such as the Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM keep solo shooting practical. “You don’t need a massive crew,” he explains. “If you understand your gear, you can get beautiful results with a small, smart team. That’s what Forty Minutes With is built on.”
Even with their professional output, the passion projects haven’t stopped. His previous film I Am Nowhere – a haunting, beautifully shot short written by Samuel Adams and lensed by their go-to DOP Jake Davies – is proof of that, and won our Future Filmmaker award two years ago. “It hit a nerve,” says Danson. “It was made for peanuts, but everyone brought everything. When the story, visuals and commitment all align, it just works.”
Story is everything for Danson. “If there’s no story, it doesn’t matter how nice it looks. You can have amazing sound, perfect colour and gorgeous visuals, but if there’s no substance it’s just fluff. A good story is what holds attention.” The goal now is to fund and create more episodes of Forty Minutes With, potentially make the leap into documentary and continue working in branded storytelling.
“There are so many stories out there – from real people and companies – that haven’t been told. That’s the stuff I love. Fiction is great, but real life is weirder, funnier and more emotional.” Despite Danson’s modesty, there’s no hiding how much the award means to him. “Everyone says it’s not about awards and, sure, it is about the work. But honestly, it’s really nice. It’s validation – not just for me, but the kind of content we believe in. Getting it from Pro Moviemaker, which understands the industry inside-out, that’s huge.”
With a unique tone, cinematic craft and a belief in letting people speak for themselves, Danson proves that longer, more thoughtful content is still relevant. In this age of scrollable soundbites and 30-second TikToks, that’s something truly worth celebrating.
MPB backs filmmaking talent
Used kit specialist MPB is the official title sponsor of Filmmaker of the Year 2025 – a fitting partnership, as the brand champions new and emerging filmmakers.
MPB is the world’s largest platform for buying, selling and trading used photo and video gear, making high-end equipment more accessible and more sustainable.
With offices in the UK, US and Europe, MPB stocks a wide range of lenses, cinema cameras, mirrorless systems, camcorders and accessories – and it’s all professionally inspected, photographed and graded
before going live on its streamlined website.
Customers can buy or sell confidently, and know exactly what they’re getting – or how much they’re getting for their kit.
By backing Filmmaker of the Year, MPB demonstrates its commitment to new talent and a sustainable industry.
This article was first published in the September/October 2025 issue of Pro Moviemaker.
