Projects 2025

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 Previous Work

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Blood Fruit

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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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In 1948 following a general election the South African government passed a regime segregating black and whites known as apartheid. Nearly forty years later, Mary Manning a 21 year old check-out worker at Dunnes Stores in Henry Street in Dublin refused to register the sale of an Outspan grapefruit under a directive from her union in support of the anti-apartheid struggle. She and nine other workers (nine women and one man) who supported her action were suspended with immediate effect and so a strike ensued. Mary and her colleagues knew little or nothing about apartheid and assumed it would be a matter of days before they could return to work but the arrival on the picket line of Nimrod Sejake changed everything. Within months Desmond Tutu, the United Nations, Jesse Jackson, Unions from all over the world, the South African government and the South African Police all embroiled themselves on opposing sides of this dispute. We will expose how opposition to this strike came from all quarters – including the Irish government, the Catholic Church and most astonishingly the Anti-Apartheid Movement revealing the bitter rivalry that escalated between all parties as the eyes of the world shone on these strikers in their fight against apartheid.

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

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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 

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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

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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.

The story of a great writer and a fantastic person. Link for part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-ThtxdcWPE

You can view part 2 HERE

September Song – Ronnie Drew

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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

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Dracula’s Bram Stoker

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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.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Brian Friel documentary

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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.

Profile of the acclaimed Irish playwright who passed away last week. Featuring contributions from Seamus Heaney, Tom Murphy and Frank McGuinness. http://www....

Selected Awards

Radharc Awards Best Documentary 2016 (Winner)

Galway Film Fleadh Best Feature Documentary 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)

Galway Film Fleadh Best Feature Documentary 2000 (Runner up)

Sunday Times Sport Book of the Year 2008 (Winner)

William Hill Sport Book of the Year 2007 UK (Nominated)