Peter J McCarthy – Filmmaker, Musician & Storyteller

Peter J McCarthy is an Irish filmmaker, cinematographer, and musician whose work fuses cinematic craft with intimate, human stories. Across film, music, and multimedia projects, he explores memory, history, and the resilience of the human spirit, creating work that resonates emotionally while reaching audiences globally. His films and music have received international recognition, earning awards in Ireland, Europe, and the United States.

Among his notable projects is The Return, a short film co-directed, edited, and shot by Peter in collaboration with Maeve McCarthy’s acclaimed art exhibition. The film revisits the decaying farmhouse of his childhood holidays in Newry, uncovering lost family stories, historical echoes, and personal reflections that bridge documentary realism and visual poetry.

Peter trained at London’s National Film and Television School and studied performance under Judith Weston in New York, supplementing his education with masterclasses led by Bruce Block, Mark Travis, and Bobette Buster. His career spans drama, documentary, and music video, including Fight or Flight, a feature-length documentary filmed over 18 months in Thailand and broadcast in 19 countries. His short film Hunter’s Fall earned multiple awards, including Best Irish Short Film and Best Drama at the Fastnet Film Festival (2023). He has also directed music videos for artists including Sinéad O’Connor and has been recognized with nominations for the Kinsale Shark Awards and IFTA Awards.

A versatile storyteller, Peter’s work ranges from intimate explorations of life after The Troubles to producing Lithuania’s highest-grossing film, later submitted for Academy Award consideration. His original music complements his visual storytelling, blending emotional depth with accessible, melodic sensibility.

Peter also holds a Diploma in Business Studies from The Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, giving him a unique balance of creative vision and practical production expertise that allows his projects to flourish both artistically and professionally.

Awards & Highlights:

  • Fastnet Film Festival – Best Irish Short Film & Best Drama (2023)

  • Underground Cinema Film Festival – Best Drama & Best Film

  • Radar Hamburg International Film Festival – Best Documentary

  • Director: Fight or Flight – Five Best Documentary awards, international broadcast

  • Director: Hunter’s Fall – Multi-award-winning short drama

  • Music Video Director for Sinéad O’Connor

Artist Statement:
"I am drawn to untold stories—personal, cultural, and political—and to the places where memory and history intersect. My work seeks to preserve moments of beauty alongside loss, capturing the universal within the personal. Whether through film, music, or memoir, I aim to give voice to stories that might otherwise fade."