Aoife McArdle

Aoife McArdle (/ˈiːfə/ EE-fa)^[1] is an Irish director, writer, and cinematographer working across film, television drama, music videos and commercials.^[2] She has received an IFTA Rising Star Award, a WFTV Best Director Award as well as Directors Guild of America and Primetime Emmy nominations for her work.

Aoife McArdle grew up in Omagh, Northern Ireland.

She studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin where, alongside creative writing, she developed an interest in photography and cinematography, shooting and editing films on Super 8 and Mini DV. She went on to complete a Masters in Film & TV production at Bournemouth film school. She began her film and music video career upon moving to London in 2005.

From 2020 to 2022, she was a director and producer on the television series Severance which aired on Apple TV to universal acclaim. The show starred Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken and John Turturro.^[3]

In 2021, she directed the short film and immersive installation All of This Unreal Time featuring Cillian Murphy performing a monologue written by Max Porter with music composed by Jon Hopkins, Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner. The piece launched at Manchester International Festival.^[4]^[5]

Her debut feature-length film, Kissing Candice, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017 and at Berlin International Film Festival in February 2018 to critical acclaim.^[6]^[7]

In 2015, she was approached by Jefferson Hack from Dazed magazine to write and direct a short film to accompany U2's track "Every Breaking Wave." The film received praise from Spike Jonze and Alejandro González Iñárritu and was nominated for four UK Music Video awards.^[8]

She has created music videos for Jon Hopkins^[9] and Bryan Ferry, television commercials for Honda,^[10] and Nike and Super Bowl commercials for Squarespace, Audi and Toyota. Her work in advertising has promoted social equality.^[11]^[12]^[13]

Her short-form work has won multiple awards including a UK Music Video Award, D&AD Pencils, Lions at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and Gold British Arrows, Clios and AICP awards.^[14]

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Her narratives often centre around outsider characters and existential themes, moving between the authentic and the surreal.^[15]^[16]

McArdle's visual style is characterised by distinctive locations, long, choreographed tracking and crane shots and low-key lighting. She favours anamorphic lenses and shooting on 35mm film.^[17]

Feature films

Kissing Candice - Irish Film Board - 2018

Television

Severance - Apple - 2022
Brave New World - Peacock - 2020

Short films

All of this Unreal Time - Manchester International Festival - 2021
Italy, Texas - Vice/55DSL - 2013
Beyond the Fervent Heat - Design Forum - 2013

Music videos

Water (ft Clara La San) - Bicep - 2022
Trouble in Town - Coldplay - 2020
Every Breaking Wave - U2 - 2015
Loop De Li - Bryan Ferry - 2014
Half-Light - Wilkinson - 2014
Open Eye Signal - Jon Hopkins - 2013
Red Dust - James Vincent McMorrow - 2013
Glacier - James Vincent McMorrow - 2013
Cavalier - James Vincent McMorrow - 2013
Lesson Number Seven - Clock Opera - 2012
Seraphim - Simian Mobile Disco - 2012
Desire - Anna Calvi - 2011
Isles - Little Comets - 2011
K Hole - Ali Love - 2006
Martell - The Cribs - 2005
What's your Damage - Test Icicles - 2005
Circle, square, triangle - Test Icicles - 2005
Helicopter (US) - Bloc Party - 2005
Pioneers - Bloc Party - 2005

Commercials

The Singularity - Squarespace - 2023 (Superbowl LVII)
Live the Game - Playstation - 2019
Dream with Us - Nike - 2019
Good Odds - Toyota - 2018 (Superbowl LII)
Runner - Toyota - 2018
First Breath - Alzheimer's Research UK - 2018
Equal Love - Absolut - 2017
Daughter - Audi - 2017 (Superbowl LI)
Prince with 1000 Enemies - Under Armour - 2016
Numbers - Under Armour - 2016
Raise - Secret - 2016
Ignition - Honda - 2015
Feel More - Samsung - 2015
This is Major - Electric Ireland - 2014
Wheels on the Car - Safer Scotland - 2013
L'Homme Idéal - GQ Magazine - 2008

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2023 Winner of BBC Studios Director Award WFTV
2023 Winner of Rising Star award IFTA
2023 Nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama Series by DGA for 'Severance'
2022 Directed the Peabody Award winning show Severance
2022 Primetime Emmy Nominated for Outstanding Drama Series for 'Severance'
2022 Nominated for Best Directing in a Streaming Series, Drama by the Hollywood Critics Association for 'Severance'
2022 Nominated for Best Narrative Short at Tribeca Film Festival for 'All of This Unreal Time'
2020 In Book for Direction at D&AD Awards for 'Trouble in Town', Coldplay
2018 Winner of Bronze Lion at Cannes for 'Good Odds', Toyota
2018 Winner of Silver for Direction at Clio Awards for 'Good Odds' Toyota
2018 Nominated for Crystal Bear, Best Film in Generation 14plus at the Berlin International Film Festival for Kissing Candice
2018 Winner of Graphite Pencil for Direction at D&AD Awards for 'Equal Love', Absolut
2018 Winner of Yellow Pencil for Cinematography at D&AD Awards for 'Equal Love', Absolut
2018 Winner of two Golds, a Silver and a Bronze at British Arrow awards for 'Equal Love', Absolut^[18]
2018 Nominated for the Glass Lion at Cannes for 'Daughter', Audi
2017 Nominated for the Discovery award at Toronto International Film Festival for Kissing Candice
2015 Nominated for Best Music Video at Camerimage for 'Every Breaking Wave' U2
2015 Nominated for Best Music Video at UK Music Video Awards for 'Every Breaking Wave' U2
2014 Nominated for Best Director at UK Music Video Awards
2014 Nominated for Best Music Video at Camerimage 'Red Dust' James Vincent McMorrow
2014 In Book for Cinematography at D&AD Awards for 'Open Eye Signal', Jon Hopkins
2013 Nominated for Best International Short Film at Raindance for 'Italy, Texas: Wild Souls in the hot, blind, earth'
2013 Winner of Best Cinematography at UK Music Video Awards for 'Open Eye Signal', Jon Hopkins^[19]
2011 Winner of Best Music Video at Rushes Soho Shorts for 'Isles', Little Comets^[20]
2009 Winner of Best Commercial at Art Director's Club Paris for 'L'homme Ideal', GQ Magazine
2008 Winner of Bronze Lion at Cannes for 'L'homme Ideal', GQ Magazine

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[1]
Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.
[2]
"50 people to watch in 2018". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
[3]
Severance, retrieved 21 March 2022
[4]
"All of This Unreal Time review – Cillian Murphy confesses all in pounding sound and blinding light". the Guardian. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
[5]
Sulcas, Roslyn (6 July 2021). "Processing the Pandemic at the Manchester International Festival". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
[6]
Hayes, Katy. "Film review: Kissing Candice". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
[7]
Mobarak, Jared (9 September 2017). "TIFF Review: 'Kissing Candice' Oozes Sexuality and Dark Glamour". The Film Stage. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
[8]
"Irish filmmaker tipped for success releases new short movie for U2 song". independent. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
[9]
Minsker, Evan (24 April 2013). "Jon Hopkins' "Open Eye Signal" Video Features a Skateboarding Odyssey". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
[10]
Diaz, Ann-Christine (14 August 2015). "Honda Blasts Off in Brand Campaign From W&K London". Creativity Online. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
[11]
"Irish director behind much talked about Super Bowl ad tackling gender pay gap". 7 February 2017.
[12]
"WATCH: The Super Bowl ad that everyone was talking about was directed by an Irish director".
[13]
"Arts Q&A: Film director Aoife McArdle on Flannery O'Connor, PJ Harvey and gay marriage". 7 July 2017.
[14]
"2018 British Arrows Award Winners". www.adforum.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
[15]
Lee, Jenny (7 July 2017). "Arts Q&A: Film director Aoife McArdle on Flannery O'Connor, PJ Harvey and gay marriage". The Irish News. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
[16]
"have an exclusive look at the trailer for aoife mcardle's debut feature film". I-d. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
[17]
MVOD. "INTERVIEW – AOIFE MCARDLE". mvod.tv. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
[18]
"2018 British Arrows Award Winners". www.adforum.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
[19]
UK Music Video Awards. "UK Music Video Awards Winners 2013". ukmva.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
[20]
Behind Magazine. "55DSL present ITALY, TEXAS a movie by Aofie McArdle". behindmagazine.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.

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[1] [1]
Jones, Daniel (2011). Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John (eds.). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-15255-6.

[2] [2]
"50 people to watch in 2018". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 January 2018.

[3] [3]
Severance, retrieved 21 March 2022

[4] [4]
"All of This Unreal Time review – Cillian Murphy confesses all in pounding sound and blinding light". the Guardian. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.

[5] [5]
Sulcas, Roslyn (6 July 2021). "Processing the Pandemic at the Manchester International Festival". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 August 2021.

[6] [6]
Hayes, Katy. "Film review: Kissing Candice". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 4 December 2021.

[7] [7]
Mobarak, Jared (9 September 2017). "TIFF Review: 'Kissing Candice' Oozes Sexuality and Dark Glamour". The Film Stage. Retrieved 4 December 2021.

[8] [8]
"Irish filmmaker tipped for success releases new short movie for U2 song". independent. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2022.

[:1-9] [9]
Minsker, Evan (24 April 2013). "Jon Hopkins' "Open Eye Signal" Video Features a Skateboarding Odyssey". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 November 2015.

[:13-10] [10]
Diaz, Ann-Christine (14 August 2015). "Honda Blasts Off in Brand Campaign From W&K London". Creativity Online. Retrieved 22 November 2015.

[11] [11]
"Irish director behind much talked about Super Bowl ad tackling gender pay gap". 7 February 2017.

[12] [12]
"WATCH: The Super Bowl ad that everyone was talking about was directed by an Irish director".

[13] [13]
"Arts Q&A: Film director Aoife McArdle on Flannery O'Connor, PJ Harvey and gay marriage". 7 July 2017.

[14] [14]
"2018 British Arrows Award Winners". www.adforum.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

[15] [15]
Lee, Jenny (7 July 2017). "Arts Q&A: Film director Aoife McArdle on Flannery O'Connor, PJ Harvey and gay marriage". The Irish News. Retrieved 18 January 2018.

[16] [16]
"have an exclusive look at the trailer for aoife mcardle's debut feature film". I-d. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2018.

[17] [17]
MVOD. "INTERVIEW – AOIFE MCARDLE". mvod.tv. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2015.

[18] [18]
"2018 British Arrows Award Winners". www.adforum.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.

[:19-19] [19]
UK Music Video Awards. "UK Music Video Awards Winners 2013". ukmva.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.

[:16-20] [20]
Behind Magazine. "55DSL present ITALY, TEXAS a movie by Aofie McArdle". behindmagazine.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.

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Aoife McArdle

Feature films

Television

Short films

Music videos

Commercials

Wikiwand in your browser!

Aoife McArdle

Feature films

Television

Short films

Music videos

Commercials

Wikiwand in your browser!

Early life

Career

Artistic style

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

External links