Sinead O’Brien is a multi-award winning director, producer and non-fiction author with a career that has spanned over twenty years. During this time she has collaborated with Screen Ireland, BBC, Sky Arts, Northern Ireland Screen, RTE, Virgin Media, TG4, BAI and NRK on a range of documentary films.
Projects 2024
Promos available on request: sinead.obrien.dublin@gmail.com
The Invitation - A Short Film (10 mins)
DLR First Frames/Flawless Films/Written by Niamh O’Connor
Director
The Two Killings of George Nkencho -
A Documentary Film (80 mins)
Screen Ireland / Virgin Media / BAI and Gambit Pictures Ltd
Director / Writer / Exec Producer
Legends in my Backyard - A Documentary Film (90 mins)
RTE / Dearg Films
Producer / Writer
Showreel
Selected Documentary Titles
Blood Fruit
The year is 1984. Apartheid is at its height with millions of black South Africans living under a brutal regime. While governments around the world refuse to sanction this inhuman regime one young shop worker from Dublin, Mary Manning decides to take a stand by refusing to register the sale of two Outspan grapefruits. She and ten other workers who support her action are suspended with immediate effect and so a strike ensues. Blood Fruit is a timely and truly inspiring film that shows when ordinary people decide take a stand against those in power, change can be brought about.
Ferndale Films for Screen Ireland, BAI, and TG4
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Awards
Best Feature Documentary Galway Film Fleadh (Winner)
IFTA George Morrison Best Feature Documentary (Nominated)
Radharc Awards Best Documentary (Winner)
Prix Europa ‘IRIS’ Awards (Nominated)
Power Plays
Joined by internationally acclaimed director Garry Hynes and actors Robert Sheehan, Sean McGinley, Marie Mullen and Tina Kellegher, writer Fintan O’Toole asks if playwrights can now rise to the challenge of dramatising a society in crisis.
Midas Productions for RTE.
Luke - A documentary on Luke Kelly
This feature length film tells the story of Ireland’s greatest ever folk singer. With contributions from Ronnie Drew, Christy Moore, Gerry Adams, John Hume, Shane McGowan, Bono and many more it extraordinary film journeys from his birth in inner city Dublin to his tragic-early death at just forty four years old.
Narration: Stephen Rea.
Ferndale Films for Screen Ireland and RTE.
Awards
IFTA Best Feature Documentary (Winner)
Irish Music Awards Best Documentary (Winner)
Maeve Binchy – At Home in the World
Maeve Binchy – At Home in the World is the story of how a talkative, curious, unusually tall girl from the little Irish seaside town of Dalkey became the writer of over forty million bestsellers. Maeve herself tells of a happy childhood, the shock of early death in the family, her travelling adventures and life as a teacher and journalist, the unexpected finding of lasting love, and first steps as a novelist. An enthralling personal account, with contributions from family, friends and colleagues, of a life lived with passion and purpose.
Ferndale Films for RTE.
You can view part 2 HERE
September Song – Ronnie Drew
Featuring contributions from Billy Connolly, Bono, Fintan O’Toole, Eamon Dunphy and many more this documentary film tells the emotive life story and musical journey of the late Ronnie Drew - singer, entertainer and raconteur. Ronnie was singular. His face distinctive and his voice unique – and to this day remains one of the very few characters in Ireland who is immediately recognizable. Since found his revolutionary folk band The Dubliners in 1962 he and his native city of Dublin have become synonymous.
Narration: Stephen Rea
Ferndale Films for RTE
Dracula’s Bram Stoker
With contributions from Neil Jordan, Donal Sinden, Christopher Less and historian Roy Foster this documentary film examines the complex life of one of Ireland’s most elusive novelists – Bram Stoker – and the bizarre parallels between the author himself and that of his most famous creation, the great vampire of them all, Count Dracula.
Narration: John Hurt and Maria Doyle Kennedy.
Ferndale Films for RTE, Screen Ireland, NRK and Sky Arts.
Brian Friel documentary
This documentary films tell the story of Ireland’s most exceptional and elusive playwrite and includes contributions from Rufus Sewell, Seamus Heaney, Stephen Rea and Frank McGuinness.
Narration: Gerard Mac Sorley
Ferndale Films for BBC and RTE.
Selected Awards
Radharc Awards Best Documentary 2016 (Winner)
Best Feature Documentary Galway Film Fleadh 2014 (Winner)
IFTA Best Feature Documentary 2002 (Winner)
Irish Music Awards Best Documentary 2002 (Winner)
IFTA George Morrison Best Feature Documentary 2015 (Nominated)
Prix Europa ‘IRIS’ Awards 2015 (Nominated)