Kate McCarthy is a writer/director based in Los Angeles, from San Francisco. She graduated from the AFI Conservatory in 2024 with an MFA in Directing. Kate’s AFI thesis film THE HICKS HAPPY HOUR premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Festival and won Best Comedy Series at the 44th College Television Awards (the Student Emmys). The film has also been nominated for a student BAFTA, screened as part of the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes, and will have its international premiere at Raindance Film Festival. Prior to AFI, Kate’s 2022 debut short LOOK, MIRA was described by Vulture as “a stylishly bittersweet coming-of-age comedy in the Todd Solondz–Wes Anderson mold that’s bursting with color and idiosyncrasy.” The film is now streaming on Directors Notes and NoBudge.  

Before film, Kate earned a BA in Theater Arts from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities. During that time, she also interned at SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, CONAN, FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE, and The Second City.