Company Profile

Fantastic Films is an OSCAR™ winning film production company with a focus on high quality genre & niche films. Taking its name from the great tradition of European Cinema Fantastique, Fantastic Films are at the forefront of producing varied & groundbreaking films of the highest quality.

Based in Dublin, Ireland the directors of the company, John McDonnell & Brendan McCarthy, have a combined experience of nearly 50 years in the film industry & since its inception Fantastic Films has produced & collaborated on a variety of film projects & received over 50 international awards.

Initially set up in 2000 as a vehicle to produce shorts and establish relationships with new, emerging talent in film, Fantastic Films have carved out a strong & unique presence in the Irish & European film markets. They have recently completed work on two innovative horror feature films, Wake Wood (2008) & Outcast (2009), which were originated & developed by the company.

Fantastic Films’ first production was the award-winning short The Making of a Prodigy with director Colm McCarthy. Collaborating with Colm for a second time, Fantastic Films recently completed work on Outcast, Colm’s first feature film, which is due for release in December ‘10.

Fantastic Films’ first feature film Song for a Raggy Boy (2002, Aisling Walsh) was an important & significant film in the Irish film landscape. Premiering at Sundance Film Festival, it went on to receive numerous international awards, including the Golden Swan for Best Film at Copenhagen Film Festival, the Jury & Audience Awards at Amiens Film Festival & the Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTAs) People's Choice Award for Best Irish Film.

A notable high-point for Fantastic Films’ was winning an OSCAR™ in 2006 for Martin McDonagh's co-produced short Six Shooter, which marked his first foray into filmmaking.

Previous feature films by Fantastic Films include:
Timbuktu (2003, Alan Gilsenan). Timbuktu opened the Dublin International Film Festival 2004 & screened worldwide. The film was nominated in seven different categories for the IFTAs.

48 Angels (2006, Marion Comer). 48 Angels has appeared in many festivals including the European Union Film Festival, Chicago, 2007.

Previous award-winning short films by Fantastic Films include:
Burning the Bed (2003, Denis McArdle); Close (2004, Tom Hopkins); Aroma (2004, Damon Silvester); Invisible State (2004, Aisling Walsh); the landmark CGI short Prey Alone (2004, Saint & Mather) & the 2006 BAFTA nominated & winning Six Shooter (2004, Martin Mc Donagh).