Brendan McCarthy

Brendan McCarthy has worked as an independent producer and as a public funder. He jointly runs, with John McDonnell, the OSCAR™ winning film production company Fantastic Films. Brendan focuses on the development, financing and distribution of the company’s own slate of films as well as any co-production projects.

Brendan is Film Adviser to An Chomhairle Ealaíon/ the Arts Council of Ireland. His role involves consulting on both policy and project related issues. Brendan also acts as the Irish delegate to Eurimages, the European co-production fund based at the Council of Europe, and has been an active member in creating policy and project selection since 2001.

From 2001 to 2005 Brendan was the Head of Production and Development at Bord Scannán na hÉireann/ the Irish Film Board. He was involved in creating new production finance initiatives, including the Low Budget Initiative and the Micro Budget Digital / Development Fund. He was actively involved in the selection and funding of projects for both development and production.

In 2006 Brendan received his 1st Class Hons MA in Scriptwriting from Dun Laoghaire College of Art, Design & Technology (DLIADT). His script Wake Wood was produced by Fantastic Films in 2008, in partnership with the legendary horror company Hammer Films.

Brendan McCarthy is a graduate of EAVE, ACE, Media Film School and Scale Strategics Marketing and recently participated in the Media funded script  lab, eQuinox Germany with his new script, The Cherry Tree.

In addition to this Brendan has also acted as a Board Member of Media Desk Ireland and previously ran his own production company, Blue Light Productions.