Claire McCarthy facts for kids

Claire McCarthy is an Australian filmmaker and artist. She writes, directs, and produces movies. She is also a visual artist.

Claire McCarthy's Early Life

Claire McCarthy was born in Sydney, Australia. Her mother, Christine, was a writer and a concert pianist. Her father was John McCarthy QC. Claire studied film at the University of Technology, Sydney. She earned her degree with honors in 1997. Later, she also studied directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. She finished her studies there in 2001.

Claire McCarthy's Filmmaking Career

Claire McCarthy has been making films since 2007. She creates short films, music videos, documentaries, and feature films. Her movies have been shown at many big film festivals around the world. These include the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival.

First Films and Documentaries

Her first feature film was Cross Life (2007). It was shown at the Sydney Film Festival and the Pusan International Film Festival. This film was nominated for an award in 2007.

In 2008, Claire made a documentary called Sisters. This film received a special grant for young filmmakers. Sisters is about Claire's trip to India with her teenage sister, Helena. They went to volunteer with Mother Teresa's group, the Missionaries of Charity, in Calcutta. The documentary was shown on ABC Television in 2008 and 2009.

Making The Waiting City

After her trip to India, Claire wrote The Waiting City. This movie is a drama about an Australian couple. They travel to Calcutta to adopt a baby. The Waiting City was the first Australian feature film to be shot entirely in India.

The film stars Radha Mitchell, Joel Edgerton, and Isabel Lucas. It first showed at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was a part of a special section there. The movie also screened at other festivals. These included the Pusan Film Festival and the Sydney Film Festival. It was released in Australia in July 2010.

Future Projects

In 2016, it was announced that Claire would direct a movie. It is based on a book called "The Personal History of Rachel DuPree." The famous actress Viola Davis will produce this film. Viola Davis will also star in the movie. Mahershala Ali and Quvenzhané Wallis are also set to appear in it.

Claire McCarthy as a Teacher

Claire McCarthy has also taught filmmaking. She taught screenwriting and directing at Macquarie University. She worked with both masters and undergraduate students. She also taught screenwriting to students with special needs at North Sydney TAFE.

In the Australian film The Black Balloon, Claire helped with the choreography. She worked with a group of autistic adults who were in the film. She also helped with the music for The Black Balloon. She contributed to the soundtracks for Sisters and The Waiting City as well.

Claire McCarthy's Personal Life

Claire McCarthy is married to Denson Baker. He is an award-winning cinematographer. A cinematographer is someone who plans and shoots the camera work for films. Claire and Denson have worked together on many projects. These include The Waiting City, The Black Balloon, and Skin. They also worked on a music video for Old Man River called Sunshine. This music video was nominated for an award in 2008.

Claire divides her time between living in Sydney, Australia, and Los Angeles, USA.

Claire McCarthy's Filmography