Brendan McCarthy – Producer / Writer

Brendan McCarthy co-owns with John McDonnell the Oscar-winning production company Fantastic Films. At Fantastic Films, Brendan oversees the development, financing and distribution of Fantastic Films’ slate and all co-productions activities.

After receiving 1st Class Hons MA in Screenwriting from IADT, in 2006, McCarthy’s screenplay for the horror film WAKE WOOD was produced by Fantastic Films, in partnership with the legendary studio Hammer Films. McCarthy’s latest script, THE CHERRY TREE is currently in post-production. Previously Brendan McCarthy was Film Adviser to An Chomhairle Ealaíon/ the Arts Council of Ireland, where he consulted on both policy and project related issues. From 2001-2012 McCarthy acted as the Irish delegate to Eurimages. Eurimages is the European co-production fund based at the Council of Europe. He was active in the creation of policy and project selection during this time.

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

Brendan McCarthy is a graduate of EAVE, ACE, Media Film School and Scale Strategics Marketing. In addition to this McCarthy has also acted as a Board Member of Media Desk Ireland and previously ran his own production company, Blue Light Productions.