Adrian McCarthy has been directing and producing documentaries for over twenty years. He is the owner of Curious Dog Films which was established in 2019 and was previously the co-owner of Wildfire Films. Raised in West Cork and living in Dublin, Adrian has made documentary films across a broad range of subjects; arts, sport, politics, music, comedy, social issues, mental health and the ups and downs of life.

In late January 2025 he produced new featured documentary Born That Way (A film about care. And love) about Patrick Lydon, visionary social pioneer, trailblazing champion of ‘ability’. While facing his final battle, we view the world through his unique lens. Directed by Éamon Little and Edited by Keith Walsh, it won BEST IRISH DOCUMENTARY at DIFF 2025 (Dublin Critics Circle Awards).

In February 2025 Adrian begins production, as director on Whiddy – A rural community in the south west of Ireland welcomes an International oil company with hopes and dreams, but it turns into their worst nightmare. A feature documentary film on the remarkable story around the arrival of Gulf oil to Whiddy Island, and how ten years later, in 1979,  a disaster where fifty people lose their lives, rocks West Cork and Northern France to its core.  Adrian’s father worked as a fireman on that unforgettable night, so this one is personal.

Some of his previous work includes: the IFTA winning ‘Rough Rider’ film, on controversial journalist and former pro cyclist, Paul Kimmage. It was described as “Remarkable. A superb film, a sad story of unrequited love” by The Sunday Independent and “Excellently paced, well crafted and beautifully filmed” by the Irish Times. The IFTA nominated, ‘Portrait of a Gallery’ was filmed over three years inside the walls of National Gallery of Ireland. The Irish Times described it as “A brilliant pieces of art criticism. In this documentary, the National Gallery gets a depiction worthy of its renovation”.

His IFTA winning ‘Hidden Impact—Rugby and Concussion’ was described as ‘an excellent documentary making for deeply unsettling yet essential viewing‘ by The Irish Times. After his documentary ‘Graham Linehan—Funny Business’, Shane Hegarty in The Irish Times said ‘A cracking profile. It was as assured an hour of television as you’re likely to see all year. Although it’s no surprise given it was the work of Adrian McCarthy. If you want an observational documentary maker, he’s about as good as they come’. And he directed ‘Small Far Away—The World of Father Ted‘ for Channel Four, which was nominated for an IFTA, given five stars and described as ‘Lovely Stuff’ by Time Out, London.

In 2021, he was Series director on the 3 x 1 hour Series ‘Our Town‘ following the lives of young people in the seaside town of Bray, Co. Wicklow. Described as ‘A beautiful portrait of young people in all their strength, vulnerability and wisdom.‘ by Patrick Freyne, Irish Times. In 2021, Adrian directed ’The Killing of Father Niall Molloy’, 2 x 1 hour documentary produced by Flawless Films – winner RTS Award 2022 for best factual series.