Thomas Ryan is the critically acclaimed writer/ director of feature films ‘Twice Shy’ and ‘Trampoline’, as well as the recent award-winning short comedy ‘Pogonophobia’. 

A Tipperary native, Thomas studied Film and TV Production in Colaiste Dhulaigh, Dublin and went on to do further studies in St John’s College, Cork. Upon leaving college he moved to America where he shot a fly-on-the-wall documentary covering Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration. The documentary ‘A Time of Change’ was a hit on the festival circuit and kick-started his career as a director. Thomas has years of industry experience, directing both live action and animated TV and commercial content alongside his feature film projects. Recent clients include Amazon, BBC NI, Sky Kids, Department of Justice NI, GAA, FAI and Energia. 

For his feature film ‘Twice Shy’, Thomas was nominated as ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’ in 2017 by the Dublin Film Critics Circle. The Irish Times said “Stay tuned. Ryan is one to watch and then some,” while Entertainment.ie noted “Very few directors would be able to navigate such obstacles as ably as Ryan does and with an ease and delicateness that marks him out as a serious talent in the making.” 

He was recently selected by Screen Ireland for their Director Conceptual Development Fund and with their support he is working on his next feature film.