Dermot O'Dempsey

Dermot O’Dempsey is an Irish Creative Producer. He is currently Development Producer at Shudder Films. His recent credits include the Irish Language Feature Film KNEECAP, which won an Audience Award at Sundance in 2024, before going on to win a BAFTA for Best Debut Feature, alongside seven BIFA awards and four IFTA awards. Upcoming Productions include: LEARNING TO BREATHE UNDER WATER, a heartfelt comedy-drama directed by Rebekah Fortune, starring Rory Kinnear & Maria Bakalova, and supported by Bankside, Screen Ireland, the Netherlands’ Film Fund, Film Cymru & UK Global Screen; DAUGHTER OF EDEN, a suspenseful debut feature directed by Fateme Ahmadi, supported by BFI, BBC Film & Screen Ireland, which is set to shoot in Summer 2025; And SOMETHING FAMILIAR, a revelatory documentary debut from Rachel Tarpajan supported by BFI Doc Society. Before his role at Shudder Films, Dermot was a freelance creative producer and production manager, working across a range of different mediums including broadcast television, animation, commercials, music videos, and short films. During this time, Dermot produced several short dramas, including MILKGUM, an elevated body horror about sex work, directed by Marcelle Nuke, supported by BFI NETWORK & Screen Scotland, which premiered at Glasgow Short Film Festival in 2024; And GIANTS, a drama about runaway conspiracy theories in post-industrial Northern England, Directed by Andy Berriman & supported by BFI NETWORK & FilmHub North, which Premiered at Leeds International Film Festival in 2025 and went on to win Best Screenplay at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2025. Dermot is an alumnus of the BFI’s Creative Producer Lab, BAFTA Connect, Doc Society’s RISE Programme, and, more recently, Less is More’s Development Angel Programme. Dermot holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature & Creative Writing from Newcastle University. He was awarded the School of English Language and Literature Scholarship at Newcastle University to study a Master's Degree in Creative Writing in 2018.