Richard Keaney first started making films while studying at University College Dublin from 2010-2013 where he made a number of student shorts. After graduating, he continued filmmaking and has gone on to direct multiple award winning short films including 'Scope' and 'Late Arrivals' ,the latter being selected to screen on Aer Lingus long haul flights in 2016.
'Scope', his third film as writer/director was selected for 13 international film festivals with a world premiere at Chicago's Logan Theater for Chicago Irish Film Festival and end to its run with a screening at the TIFF Bell Lightbox for Toronto Irish Film Festival. 'Scope' won awards for Best Performance at Bolton Film Festival and Best Actress at the Underground Cinema Film Awards in Dublin for its lead actress, Andrea Kelly where it also picked up a nomination for Best Actor for lead actor, Fiach Kunz. Additionally, Fiach was nominated for Best Actor at Romania's Filmstrip International Film Festival where Richard was also nominated for Best Director.
'Getting In', written by Ken Armstrong was his fourth short film as director and enjoyed festival success in Ireland and abroad with official selections at 12 international film festivals including The Richard Harris International Film Festival, Limerick Kerry International Film Festival, Mayo International Film Festival, Waterford International Film Festival, Achill Island Film Festival, Chicago Irish Film Festival, Irish Film From Home, London, Underground Cinema Film Awards, Dún Laoghaire, Fastnet Film Festival, Cork and Dublin International Short Film & Music Festival.
Richard works full time as a documentary director and editor in Dublin, Ireland and has directed and edited a documentary about the 30 year history of the Irish Women's Rugby team, 'Rugbai na Mban- Ag Briseadh Tríd' which was commissioned for broadcast by TG4 in January 2023. An upcoming sailing documentary, 'Around My Island' he shot and edited will be broadcast on RTE and France3 in 2024. Scope, his third film as writer/director was selected for thirteen international film festivals with a world premiere at Chicago's Logan Theater for Chicago Irish Film Festival and end to its run with a screening at the TIFF Bell Lightbox for Toronto Irish Film Festival. Scope won awards for Best Performance at Bolton Film Festival and Best Actress at the Underground Cinema Film Awards in Dublin for its lead actress, Andrea Kelly where it also picked up a nomination for Best Actor for lead actor, Fiach Kunz. Additionally, Fiach was nominated for Best Actor at Romania's Filmstrip International Film Festival where Richard was also nominated for Best Director.
In 2020, Richard collaborated with writer Ken Armstrong on the short film, ‘Getting In’ in 2020 which was selected at 11 International Film Festivals including Richard Harris International Film Festival and Kerry Film Festival.
Following on from 'Getting In', Richard and Ken Armstrong have now collaborated once more on their new crime short, ‘Joey Had Never Been Out Of The City’ a story woven with dark humour and tragic irony. The film follows a naive young lad, Joey who has never left Dublin and his weary accomplice Wayne who having robbed a cash filled biscuit tin from an elderly woman, finding themselves in over their heads, they need to stash it away before they get caught.