I completed my undergraduate degree in Film and Screen Media in University College Cork Ireland, with a minor in English literature. After graduating I gained industry experience as a videographer and freelance filmmaker. My short films have been successful on the film festival circuit, and I also have experience on larger projects, such as in videography for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. I continue to write film reviews and review scripts freelance, and participate in previewing short films for festivals.
I completed my MSc at the University of Edinburgh in Film Studies, with a focus on Japanese cinema, Korean cinema, and Film Adaptation. I completed my thesis on the representation of Irish folklore in cinema. “Béaloideas agus Blockbusters: Irish Supernatural Mythology in the Movies” addresses representations of Irish supernatural mythology – particularly mythical creatures - in horror and fantasy films, and touches on many satellite themes such as folklore and colonialism, folklore and religion, and folklore and environmentalism.
My PhD research is an expansion of my research into horror cinema and folklore, but expands the reach beyond Ireland to encompass folklore and horror from around the world: including European fairytale horror, Scandinavian folk horror, native American folk horror, and Japanese folk horror. My research interests cover all branches of film studies, but particularly genre cinema, as well as folkloristics, urban legends, and popular media. I will be at St John’s College for the duration of my PhD. Please email me if you would like to talk about films or folklore! (evd23@cam.ac.uk)