Who are we?
Niall McCloskey and Thomas Bennett are a Belfast based directing, writing, producing and visual art duo; by trade the pair work freelance in the Northern Irish Film and TV industry with Niall working in the Assistant Director Department and Thomas working within the Props and Art Department.
Niall launched his directorial filmography in 2023 with the award nominated short film 'Better Before' as well as co-writing, co-directing and co-producing the award winning short ‘In Wake of John Doyle’ alongside Thomas in 2024.
A multidisciplinary artist focused on Hi8 tape and Super 8, Thomas launched his directorial filmography in 2021 at Raindance Film Festival with ‘The Seven Signs’. ‘Now That I Look’ (2024) is his most recent short-film to start its festival run.
The pair have been working together for two years now; having collaborated on a variety of projects, most recent being the award winning short film ‘‘In Wake of John Doyle’. The pair are currently in post-production on their follow-up short ‘Gabriels Trumpet’ as well as developing their first feature.
Together their work has been selected for the BAFTA affiliated Belfast Film Festival, DIFF (Dublin International Film Festival), Raindance Film Festival, The British Short Film Awards and more.
Thomas Bennett (left) and Niall McCloskey (right)
Our Team
Thomas Bennett - Co-founder
As a Belfast-based artist and writer working with the moving image, the incitement of ideas and questions lies at the heart of what I aim to achieve. Film as a means of dialogue.
Whilst enraptured with the camera from a young age, the road to directing and writing began in the theatre. I wrote and directed a play ‘The Insignificant life and Death of Colin Mckenzie’ (2018) that showed for a successful 2 weeks at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Since that point, I turned towards film and directed ‘The Seven Signs’ (2021) which debuted at Raindance (2021). Past this my work has focused on using Hi-8 and Super 8 to explore the effects of medium on narrative and story-telling. My collaboration with Niall began in 2023 and Hi-8 tape work In ‘Wake Of John Doyle’ (2024) was born, it’s list of accolades ever-growing.
Having left the University of Leeds with an international BA in History and Philosophy, I entered the film world via the Props Department in 2021 as a means to explore the industry. Since then I have worked on numerous productions in Northern Ireland from ‘Blue Lights’ (2023) and ‘School For Good and Evil’ (2021) to ‘World on Fire’ Season 2 (2023) and Game of Thrones: Hedge Knight (2025).
Whilst micro-short ‘Now That I Look’ (2024) begins it’s festival run, my next written and directed work ‘Gabriel’s Trumpet’, is entering post-production. Produced by Niall, we are both working towards a Spring 2025 release.
CV available upon request.
Niall McCloskey - Co-founder
For years now I have been working towards a life in the arts. Like so many in my generation, I’ve been entranced by all things film and television from a young age, this is beyond a passion for myself; it’s a way of life.
Pursuing my passions from university, I have worked within the Northern Ireland film and television industry since 2021 having had the chance to work on Game of Thrones: The Hedge Knight (2025), The Woman in The Wall (2023), Hope Street (2022-) and many more within the AD department and am a keen member of the Assistant Director Guild UK.
I am actively working towards long-term goals of directing/producing with my previous short films doing well in their respective festival runs. My most recent short, co-directed/produced with Tom, In Wake of John Doyle is currently going through a successful festival run being selected for Belfast Film Festival, DIFF (Dublin International Film Festival), The British Short Film Awards Longlist, Louth International Film Festival and more.
Internally I am currently working on post-production for the next piece from Tom and myself I had the pleasure to produce; ‘Gabriel’s Trumpet’ as well as working on prep for our next co-wrote piece; ‘The Galley’ which I shall be producing.
CV available upon request.