Claire McCarthy facts for kids

Claire McCarthy is a talented Australian filmmaker. She is known for her work as a screenwriter, director, producer, and visual artist. She creates movies and other visual projects.

Early Life and Education

Claire McCarthy was born in Sydney, Australia. Her mother was an author and a concert pianist. Her father, John McCarthy KC, was a lawyer.

Claire went to Meriden School in the early 1990s. She later studied film at the University of Technology, Sydney. She graduated with honors in 1997. In 2001, she also finished her studies in directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.

Career in Filmmaking

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 film festivals around the world. These include the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sydney Film Festival.

Directing Feature Films

Her first feature film was Cross Life (2007). It was shown at the Sydney Film Festival and the Pusan International Film Festival. The film was about life in Kings Cross, a busy area in Sydney. It was nominated for an award in 2007.

In 2008, Claire made a documentary called Sisters. This film was about her trip to India with her younger sister, Helena. They volunteered with Mother Teresa's group, the Missionaries of Charity, in Calcutta. Sisters was shown on ABC Television in Australia.

Claire then wrote The Waiting City. This movie was inspired by her experiences and connections in India. It tells the story of an Australian couple who travel to Calcutta to adopt a baby. This was the first Australian feature film to be filmed entirely in India.

The Waiting City premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2009. It starred Radha Mitchell and Joel Edgerton. The film was released in Australia in July 2010.

In 2016, it was announced that Claire would direct a movie based on the book The Personal History of Rachel DuPree. Famous actors Viola Davis, Mahershala Ali, and Quvenzhané Wallis were set to star in it.

Teaching and Other Work

Claire McCarthy has also shared her knowledge with others. She has taught screenwriting and filmmaking at Macquarie University. She also taught screenwriting to students with special needs at North Sydney TAFE.

For the Australian film The Black Balloon, Claire helped choreograph scenes. She worked with a group of autistic adults who were in the movie. She also helped with the music for The Black Balloon, Sisters, and The Waiting City.

Personal Life

Claire McCarthy is married to cinematographer Denson Baker. He is an award-winning filmmaker who works with cameras. They got married in 2009.

Claire and Denson have worked together on several projects. These include The Waiting City, The Black Balloon, and Skin. They also collaborated 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.

Filmography