Robert O'Toole-Byrne

Biography

Robert O’Toole-Byrne is an Irish filmmaker, writer and director based in Dublin. His work spans narrative short films, micro-films and commercial filmmaking, with a focus on character-driven stories, grounded human experiences and cinematic visual storytelling. Robert began developing his filmmaking practice through independent short-form projects, using filmmaking as a way to explore relationships, identity, change and the experiences that shape people. His 2026 short film Before I Go, which he wrote, directed, produced and edited, was selected for Ballina Fringe Festival. In October 2026, he won Best Film at the Ballina Smartphone Short Film Festival. He has also created a series of micro-films exploring visual storytelling and continues to work across both narrative and commercial productions. In 2026, Robert began developing STILL HERE, his second narrative short film, exploring friendship, grief and emotional communication, set for production in early 2027. Alongside his own productions, he works on commercial and event-based filmmaking projects while building a career within Ireland’s independent film community.