Rebecca O'Brien

Rebecca O'Brien

Rebecca O'Brien has been an independent film producer for twenty years. She has produced nine feature films with Ken Loach, including Land And Freedom, Sweet Sixteen and My Name Is Joe. Their most recent release The Wind That Shakes The Barley, set during the Irish War of Independence, won the Palme d'Or in Cannes last year.

 

O'Brien and Loach have a production company called "Sixteen Films Ltd" and are currently in post-production on their new film Looking For Eric, written by regular collaborator Paul Laverty, which will be released in autumn 2009. O'Brien is a board member of the UK Film Council.

Filmography

As Producer

  • 2008 » Looking For Eric
  • 2007 » It's A Free World...
    Feature film set in the world of contemporary agency working and migrant employment.
    Directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty.
    A Sixteen Films, BIM Distribuzione, EMC, Tornasol Films and SPI production.
    In competition Venice 2007.
  • 2006 » The Wind That Shakes The Barley
    Feature film set in Ireland about the Flying Columns during the Irish War of Independence and Civil War during the early 1920's.
    Directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty.
    A Sixteen Films, Element Films, EMC, BIM Distribuzione and Tornasol Films Production.
    Won Palme d'Or Cannes 2006.
  • 2005 » Tickets
    Portmanteau film set on trains in Italy, directed by Ermanno Olmi, Abbas Kiarostami and Ken Loach.
    A Fandango and Sixteen Films Production.
    Produced by Carlo Cresto-Dina, Babak Karimi, Rebecca O'Brien and Domenico Procacci.
    Premiere Berlin International Festival.
  • 2004 » Ae Fond Kiss
    Feature film set in Glasgow written by Paul Laverty, directed by Ken Loach.
    A Sixteen Films, Bianca Films, EMC, Tornasol Producton.
    In competition Berlin Film Festival 2004, won Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and the Prize of the German Cinema Owners.
  • 2003 » 11'09'01
    Short film included in portmanteau feature by 11 different directors about 11th September 2001.
    Directed by Ken Loach.
    A Canal Plus/Galatee Films Production.
    Venice Film Festival UNESCO Award and FIPRESCI Award for Best Short Film.
  • 2002 » Sweet Sixteen
    Feature film set in the West of Scotland about a teenage boy in his entrepreneurial quest to reunite his family.
    Directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty.
    A Sixteen Films, Road Movies, Tornasol/Alta Production.
    In Competition Cannes 2002. Won Best Screenplay Cannes 2002.
  • 2001 » The Navigators
    Feature film about the effect of privatisation on a group of railway workers during 1995/6.
    Directed by Ken Loach and written by Rob Dawber.
    A Parallax Pictures, Road Movies, Tornasol/Alta Production.
    Venice Film Festival 2001
  • 2000 » Princesa
    Feature film set in Milan about a Brazilian transexual prostitute who dreams of becoming a normal Italian housewife.
    Directed by Henrique Goldman and written by Henrique Goldman and Ellis Freeman.
    A Parallax Pictures, BIM Distribuzione, Road Movies Production.
    Sundance 2001
  • 1999 » Bread and Roses
    Feature film set in Los Angeles about immigrant office cleaners and their struggle for union recognition.
    Directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty.
    A Parallax Pictures, Road Movies Vierte Produktionen, Tornasol/Alta Production.
  • 1998 » My Name Is Joe
    Feature film about a mid-life love affair set in contemporary Glasgow.
    Directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty.
    A Parallax Pictures/Road Movies Vierte Produktionen Production.
    Best Actor Cannes 1998
  • 1997 » Bean
    Feature film about Mr Bean directed by Mel Smith and written by Richard Curtis.
    A Working Title production for Polygram.
  • 1996 » The Flickering Flame
    documentary directed by Ken Loach about the plight of the striking Liverpool Dockers.
    BBC and AMIP, France.
  • 1995 » Land And Freedom
    Feature film about the Spanish Civil War, directed by Ken Loach for Parallax Pictures, Messidor Films in Spain and Road Movies in Germany.
    Felix Award for European Film of the Year 1995
    Cesar for Best Foreign Film 1995
    International Critics Prize, Cannes 1995
  • 1993 » Dispatches - The Doughty Street Papers
    Current affairs documentary investigating Conservative Party Fund-Raising, for Channel Four.
  • 1992 » A Statement of Affairs
    Carlton Television, produced with Jane Root for Wall to Wall Television.
  • 1990 » Hidden Agenda (1990)
    Feature film directed by Ken Loach for Initial Pictures and Hemdale.
    Cannes Jury Prize 1990.
  • 1998 » Echoes
    A four part series for Channel Four from the book by Maeve Binchy, directed by Barbara Rennie for Working Title.
  • 1987 Friendship's Death
    Feature film directed by Peter Wollen for The British Film Institute.

As Executive Producer

  • 2007 » Summer
    Feature film directed by Kenny Glenaane, written by Hugh Ellis and produced by Camilla Bray.
  • 2007 » Brazuco
    Feature film about Jean-Charles de Menezes and his cousins, directed by Henrique Goldman, written by Henrique Goldman and Marcello Starobinas and produced by Luke Schiller.
  • 2007 » Martino Unstrung
    Documentary about legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino and his brain. Directed and produced by Ian Knox, written by Ian Knox and Paul Broks.

As Production Manager

  • 1991 » Dispatches - The Arthur Legend
    Directed by Ken Loach for Channel Four.
  • 1986 » Up Line
    A four part series for Zenith and Channel Four, written by Howard Schumacher, directed by Bob Spiers.
  • 1985 » Six of Hearts
    3 episodes of a six part series for Channel Four about individual gay people's lives.
  • 1984 » Sacred Hearts
    Feature film for Channel Four, written and directed by Barbara Rennie.
  • 1982 » Crystal Gazing
    Feature film for the BFI, directed by Peter Wollen and Laura Mulvey.

As Location Manager

  • 1987 » Sammy and Rosie Get Laid
    Feature film by Working Title for Channel Four, written by Hanif Kureishi, directed by Stephen Frears.
  • 1985 » My Beautiful Laundrette
    Feature film by Working Title for Channel Four, written by Hanif Kureishi, directed by Stephen Frears.

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