Meet the Producer: Feature Films with Rebecca O’Brien

In this new strand of WFTV events, members are invited to Meet the Producer. This inaugural session will feature our host and fellow producer Michelle Stein in conversation with acclaimed feature film producer, Rebecca O’Brien.

BAFTA winning Rebecca O’Brien works closely with Ken Loach and has produced major works such as The Wind That Shakes The Barley and I, Daniel Blake which both won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Michelle and Rebecca will discuss Rebecca’s career path developing features, along with any current trends she’s noticing within the industry, and insights on funding and developing projects.

There will be an opportunity to ask Rebecca questions during the last 15 minutes of the session.

Event Schedule:

18:25: Please join the webinar waiting room

18:30: In conversation with Rebecca O’Brien

19:15: Attendee Q&A opens

19:30: Finish

About Rebecca O’Brien, Guest Producer

Rebecca O’Brien has been an independent film producer for over thirty years. She has produced seventeen feature films directed by Ken Loach, including Land and Freedom, Sweet Sixteen, and The Angel’s Share. Both The Wind That Shakes The Barley (2006) and I, Daniel Blake (2016) won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Her other producing credits include Bean, directed by Mel Smith, Princesa, directed by Henrique Goldman and Versus: The Life And Films Of Ken Loach. She recently completed production of My Son directed by Christian Carion, starring James McAvoy and Claire Foy.

She is currently producing The Old Oak written by Paul Laverty and directed by Ken Loach. Her development projects include Harvest written by Joslyn Barnes and Athina Tsangari and Faraway Cows Have Long Horns, a TV series written by Paul Laverty and to be directed by Iciar Bollain.

O’Brien is currently on the boards of British Screen Forum, The Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh and the European Film Academy where she is deputy Chair. She runs the production company Sixteen Films with Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty.

About Sixteen Films

Sixteen Films is the film production company formed by director Ken Loach and producer Rebecca O'Brien in 2002. Writer Paul Laverty is the Associate Director and the primary function of the company has been to make films written, produced or directed by this team. The company also works with a small number of like-minded filmmakers and supports new producers.

Since its formation Sixteen Films has produced sixteen feature films including The Wind that Shakes the Barley (Palme d’Or Cannes 2006), The Angels’ Share (Jury Prize Cannes 2012 and I, Daniel Blake (Palme d’Or Cannes 2016). Their latest production Sorry We Missed You premiered at Cannes in May 2019. They have just completed production on The Old Oak in the northeast of England which will launch in competition in Cannes in May 2023.

Other films produced by the team include City of Tiny Lights directed by Pete Travis and starring Riz Ahmed, Warbook directed by Tom Harper and Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach directed by Louise Osmond. They recently co-produced Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here and Christian Carion’s My Son.

The projects they are currently developing include Joslyn Barnes’ and Athina Tsangari’s Harvest and Laura Carrera’s On Falling.

About Michelle Stein, Host Producer

Michelle Stein is a BAFTA nominated, RTS nominated and BIFA winning producer. She is a Founder of and producer at new North-West based production company The Fold, which she has recently established with long-term producing partner Jen Monks. Films Michelle has produced have premiered at Critic’s Week in Cannes, SXSW and the London Film Festival. Her latest production, Sky Peals, by writer/director Moin Hussain was funded by Film4, the BFI and Screen Yorkshire and will be released later in the year. Michelle’s has a range of films and TV projects in development with a variety of broadcasters and funders such as Film 4, BBC Films and the BFI. Her company was recently named a recipient of the BBC’s Small Indie Fund.

How will the online event work?

This event will be live streamed via Zoom.us. Viewing details will be sent via your confirmation.

Attending participants will not be visible to others and will be muted throughout the session. After the talk, there will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions by using the Q&A feature.

This event is for existing WFTV members only.

If you are not a member and would like to join, membership costs just £100 + VAT/yr , please click here or email admin@wftv.org.uk

At WFTV, we want our events to be accessible for everyone. If you have any access requirements, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you. Please contact admin@wftv.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.