We are thrilled to welcome Damian McCarthy, the twisted mind behind ODDITY, CAVEAT and most recently HOKUM, to this year’s festival to take part in a directing masterclass as part of our Long Short Weekend.
McCarthy’s career began with some skin-crawling shorts which screened and won awards at festivals around the world. His feature debut, CAVEAT, screened in 2020 before being added to Shudder and becoming a worldwide sensation. He followed this with ODDITY in 2024, before his biggest feature yet in HOKUM, starring Adam Scott. Despite his meteoric rise, his work retains a deeply Irish sensibility: darkly humorous and versed in folklore, scratching at that paranoid, uncomfortable itch at the back of the brain.
The conversation will be moderated by actor, writer and director Clare Monnelly (star of Aislinn Clarke’s FRÉWAKA). Featuring some of Damian’s shorts, some clips from his films, and some from the work that inspired him, this will be an indispensable evening for filmmakers and film fans alike.
This masterclass is sponsored by Northern Ireland Screen.
Venue Information:
Black Box
18 – 22 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA
- Wheelchair accessible
- Level access
- Automatic or power-assisted doors at the entrance
- Entry & exit well lit
- Drop bar available
- Hearing loop
- Accessible bathroom
The nearest Changing Places toilet is in Castle Court Shopping Centre. It is open from 9am – 6pm.
Note: The entrance to the Black Box is located on a cobblestone road. Vehicle access is available by request to the venue, otherwise the street is pedestrianised.
Transport information:
The closest bus stop is Lower Donegall Street.
The closest train station is Grand Central Station (20 minute walk or a 12 minute bus).