Adrian McCarthy
I've been making documentaries for the last twenty years. In 2001, I became co-owner/director of Wildfire Films, an independent film and TV production company based in Dublin, Ireland. In Wildfire we produced quality, entertaining and informative television and feature documentaries, and a number of TV drama series both for national and international audiences. Our programmes and films were commissioned or broadcast by the likes of RTE, TG4, Channel 4, BBC Four, TV3, Setanta, ARTE Germany, YLE Finland, and SBS Australia. Many have won awards and screened at film festivals around the globe.
I have directed, produced and exec produced over fifty hours of doc's across a broad range of thought provoking subjects including the arts, sport, politics, human-interest and mental health. From originating ideas, building trust with participants and securing funding and financing, I have extensive experience across all aspects of the production process. And dare I say it, I really like what I do! - well, most of the time. In September 2019, I decided it's time for change and set up my own company, Curious Dog Films.
I'm currently working on a number of projects including developing a feature documentary 'Children of the Church'. I'm producing this with Wildfire Films and Screen Siren Pictures in Canada. Have just completed post-production on; 'Our Town', a doc series about the lives of young people in the seaside town of Bray, Co. Wicklow - produced by Wildfire Films/Curious Dog Films for RTE.
I'm directing a documentary on the controversial story around the death of Father Niall Molloy in 1985 - this is produced by Sharon Lawless/Flawless Films. In Curious Dog Films, we are also making an arts doc on inspirational designer Clodagh, directed by Oda O'Carroll, and we're in development with Whiddy - a feature doc on the gulf oil terminal disaster in 1979, for Screen Ireland.
Credits include:
One Hour and Feature Documentaries
2021 OUR TOWN - Series Producer/Director (3 x 50 min's for RTE)
2019 WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ROSS - Producer/Director (50 min's RTE One)
2018 LEAVING AGAIN - Producer/Director (52 min's RTE One)
2018 MY BROKEN BRAIN- Co-Director (52 min's for Independent Pictures - RTE One)
2017 ANTHONY FOLEY | MUNSTERMAN - Producer (54 min's RTE One)
2017 PORTRAIT OF A GALLERY – Producer/Director (78 min's RTE One/BAI)
2016 PULL LIKE A DOG - Producer/Director (54 mins RTE One)
2015 A DIFFERENT CLASS – Series Producer (2 x 52min's, RTE One)
2015 HIDDEN IMPACT - Rugby and Concussion - Producer/Director (54 min's RTE One)
2015 OCD and ME - Producer/Director (52 min's, RTE One)
2014 ROUGH RIDER – Director (90 min's, IFB/RTE)
2013 SOMEBODY TO LOVE – Exec Producer (52 min's RTE One)
2012 INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT – Director (52 min's RTE One)
2012 JOHN LONERGAN’S SCHOOL PRINCIPLES – Producer (40 min's RTE One)
2011 WHOSE ART IS IT ANYWAY – Director (52 min's RTE One, Arts Lives)
2011 SMALL FAR AWAY – THE WORLD OF FATHER TED - Producer/Director (48 min's Channel Four, A Hat Trick Production)
2010 LIVING COLOUR – Producer (82mins IFB/BAI/RTE)
2010 GILBERT O’SULLIVAN – OUT ON HIS OWN - Producer/Director (52mins RTE One / Acquired by BBC Four)
2010 LIFE AFTER DELL - Producer/Director (52mins RTE One)
2010 DEEP END DANCE - Exec Producer ( Short Dance Film - Arts Council/RTE)
2009 CROKE PARK LIVES – Producer/Director (52mins RTE One/BAI)
2008 THE RIORDANS–TEA, TABOOS AND TRACTORS - Producer (52mins-RTE One)
2008 STONE PASTURES – Exec Producer. (80mins IFB/Channel 4/YLE/Finnish Film Foundation)
2008 ABOUT BEAUTY - DOROTHY CROSS – Exec Producer (52mins IFB/Arts Council)
2007 RED MIST – ROY KEANE and The Football Civil War – Producer (58mins–IFB/BCI/Setanta)
2007 GRAHAM LINEHAN: FUNNY BUSINESS. - Director. (52mins- RTE One)
2006 A MISSING GENERATION – AIDS in Africa. Producer/Director (52 mins – RTE One)
2005 FAIRY WIFE - The Burning of Bridget Cleary - Director. (52mins - RTE/Irish Film Board)
2005 BEATEN - Director. (52mins – Liberty Films for RTE One)
2005 MIGHTY TALK –A Journey with DruidSynge. Producer (52mins RTE/IFB/Arts Council)
2004 SCHOOL NO. 1 – A Mission to Beslan - Producer/Director. (40 mins – RTE One)
2004 AN TOBAR (The Well) - Producer/Co-Director. (52mins –TG4/Irish Film Board)
2004 MUCA LE MAIDI (When Pigs Carry Sticks) – Producer(52 mins – TG4/Irish Film Board/YLE)
2003 CRASH – Director. (52mins – A Mint Production for RTE One)
2002 LIVING THE REVOLUTION – Producer/Director (50mins – TV3/Irish Film Board).
2001 DEAD SILENCE – Producer/Director (52mins – RTE One)
2000 BLOWING THE WHISTLE –Producer/director (52mins–RTE One)
1999 TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE. Producer (48mins – TV3)
Half- Hour Documentaries
2019 TWO LUKES- Producer/Director (25 min's RTE One)
2016 MAKING IRELAND CLICK - Series Producer (4x 25min's, RTE One/BAI)
2008/07 CONSUMING PASSIONS - Exec Producer, (16x 30 mins series for RTE One)
2006 PIGEON HEADS - Producer/Director. (30 mins – RTE One)
2005 A GOOD INNINGS - Producer/Director. (30 mins – RTE One)
2005 SING AND YOU WIN - Producer. (30 mins – RTE One).
2004 COMMUNION KIDS - Producer/Director. (30 mins – RTE One)
2004 Rang a Do- Producer (25min TG4)
2003 WALKING THE DOG- Produced/Directed (30 mins – RTE One).
Misc
2014 STRAY SOD - Tommy Tiernan Live (Director - 1 x 90 min's)
Comedian Tommy Tiernan performs at the Glebe Gardens Amphitheatre in Baltimore, County Cork, offering his unique take on a range of issues. The first stand up DVD ever recorded in a field! The first stand up DVD ever to be recorded in a field, it went to double platinum status in one month.
Feature Films & Television Drama
1993-1999 – Credits Include:
WAR OF THE BUTTONS (Trainee AD), FRANKIE STARLIGHT (Locations Dept), THE GOVERNOR (Locations Dept), BALLYKISSANGEL Series 1 & 2 (Location Manager), LAST OF THE HIGH KINGS (Third AD), THE AMBASSADOR (Location Manager), FALLING FOR A DANCER (Location Manager), CAST A COLD EYE (Location Manager), ORDINARY DESCENT CRIMINAL (Location Manager), BLOODY SUNDAY - 2nd Unit (Prod Manager).
2017 GRACE HARTE - Exec Producer - (3 x 1hour drama series for TG4/BAI)
2013 CRISIS ELLE - Exec Producer - (6 part comedy drama for TG4/BAI)
2010 AN CRISIS - Exec Producer - (6 part comedy drama for TG4/BAI)
2010 DEEP END DANCE - Exec Producer - (Short Dance Film RTE/ARTS Council)
Documentary Awards & Nominations:
IFTA Winner 2016 (Hidden Impact - Rugby in Concussion) Best Sports.
IFTA Winner 2013 (Inside The Department) TV editing, Brenda Morrissey.
IFTA Winner 2015 (Rough Rider) TV editing, Mick Mahon.
Winner Radharc Award (Missing Generation–AIDS In Africa (2008)
Winner Radharc Award (John Lonergan–School Principles (2012)
Winner Best European Documentary Grand Prix Circom Regional, 2002 (Dead Silence)
Winner Best Feature, ESB National Media Awards, 2001 (Dead Silence)
Winner Best Sports Programme, ESB National Media Awards, 2000 (Blowing the Whistle)
IFTA Nominations 2018 (Portrait of a Gallery) Specialist Factual
IFTA Nomination 2018 (Anthony Foley - Munsterman) Sport
IFTA Nomination 2018 (Pull Like a Dog) Sport
IFTA Nominations 2015 (OCD and ME) TV editing, Brenda Morrissey
IFTA Nomination 2015 (OCD and ME) TV camera, Eleanor Bowman.
IFTA Nominations 2011 (Small Far Away – The World of Father Ted) best documentary]
IFTA Nominations 2008 (Red Mist) Sport
IFTA Nominations 2003 (Living The Revolution) best documentary
IFTA Nominations 2003 (Crash) best current affairs
Prix Europa TV Awards. Best documentary nominee, 2011 (Life After Dell)
Winner Best Feature at New York Film Fleadh (Living the Revolution)
Celtic Film and Television Festival Nominations (Anthony Foley - Munsterman, Fairy Wife, Dead Silence, Crash)
Selection of documentary reviews:
'We Need to Talk About Ross' - An affectionate portrait of a writer who has become an important part of the Irish literary establishment' - Sunday Business Post.
'Anthony Foley - Munsterman' - Poignant tribute. A moving and uplifting documentary..that does a proud man proud - Sunday Times.
Unflinching, yet warm, expertly constructed - Irish Times
Unmissable. As with anything coming out of the Wildfire Films stable, This is quality. - Sunday Independent.
This affecting, respectfully made documentary...was hauntingly emotional....gripping. - Sunday Times.
'Portrait of a Gallery' - Excellent documentary...a brilliant piece of art criticism - Irish Times
Fascinating - Irish Examiner
'Pull Like a Dog' - Probably one of the most revealing and insightful portraits of any athletes in years - Evening Herald
Inspiring stuff. Packed with comedy moments while a fascinating look into how the O'Donovan brothers deal with pain. Another outstanding documentary from RTE. Balls.ie
'Hidden Impact' Excellently researched, clearly presented and deeply persuasive, Hidden Impact was almost campaigning in its conviction. Not a stone was left unturned. It makes for deeply unsettling yet essential viewing. - Irish Times.
Hidden Impact was a hard hitting, methodical and well structured assault on a vexed subject. - Sunday Times.
Wildfire Films superb documentary on concussion, should be looked up by every rugby parent. It was an outstanding piece of work and I could not recommend it more highly to anyone concerned with this matter. - Sunday Independent
‘Rough Rider’ Superb film, a sad story of unrequited love – Sunday Independent
Excellently paced, well crafted and beautifully filmed – Irish Times
Fantastic. Supremely compelling. Balls.ie
'A Missing Generation - AIDS in Africa' - Powerful documentary which howled for our attention. With a documentary like this telling us how it is, none of us can claim we weren't told what was happening
‘Inside The Department’ - An Intriguing insight into the life of a Government Minister – Evening Herald
This fly on the wall documentary made for riveting TV. Sunday Independent.
‘Whose Art Is It Anyway?’ – informative and genuinely entertaining. John Boland, Irish Independent.
‘Small Far Away The World of Father Ted’ – Lovely Stuff. TIME OUT, London. An excellent documentary – Sunday Business Post.
‘Life After Dell’ – A hard-hitting, moving and ultimately inspiring documentary. Evening Herald.
‘Gilbert O’Sullivan-out on his own’ – An excellent film, Irish Times. A Sometimes painfully honest film. Radio Times. Terrific, an absorbing portrait of a self absorbed man who can be prickly and difficult, Evening Herald. An Enjoyable Film. The Independent (UK).
‘Red Mist’ – It’s a brilliant film...zippy, evocative, poignant and often very, very funny...a must see, beg, borrow or steal a copy. Evening Herald
‘Graham Linehan – Funny Business’ – A cracking profile of Linehan. It was as assured an hour of television as you’re likely to see all year, although it’s no surprise given that it was the work of Adrian McCarthy of Wildfire Films. If you want an observational documentary, he’s about as good as they come. Irish Times.
'Blowing The Whistle' - ‘You could smell the blood, sweat and tears in this highly crafted and often very funny portrait of men under pressure. Great stuff’. Irish Times.
‘Crash’- ‘Young men maimed, little boys killed, grieving parents, bewildered and shamed siblings, Crash was virtually unbearable. Sunday Tribune
Education:
1991-1993 Ballyfermot Senior College, Dublin. City and Guilds Television and Audio Operations.
1975-1985 St Fachtnas, De La Salle, Skibbereen, Co.Cork. Leaving Cert
My first real education in life was living in the U.S, London and Sydney from 1986-1991. Then when you have kids and dogs, you really get start to understand what's really going on!!
Misc Information
Originally from Skibbereen in West Cork, Ireland. Now living in Dublin. Married with two children, a Basset Hound called Ivy and a Wired Fox Terrier called Jarvis.