‘CHASING THE LIGHT’
CHASING THE LIGHT tells the story of charismatic hippie Peter Cornish who founded Dzogchen Beara, a world-leading Tibetan Buddhist centre on the cliffs of West Cork. For five decades, this former clifftop farm has transformed the lives of thousands who receive solace from the Buddhist teachings. But as the devoted community attempts to build Ireland's first Tibetan Buddhist temple, their revered teacher, Sogyal Rinpoche, is accused of serious misconduct. CHASING THE LIGHT sensitively dissects this spiritual haven's complicated history in this meditative and beautiful film.
World Premier at Cork Film Festival 2024 (nominated Best Irish Film), International Premier at Thessaloniki Film Festival 2025. Released theatrically nationwide in Ireland by Eclipse Distribution in December 2024. See News section for a selection of reviews and interviews and contact us for news of future screenings.
Written and directed by Maurice O’Brien
Produced by Clare Stronge
With thanks to our funders Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meáin and RTE.
THE ARTIST AND THE WALL OF DEATH
Feature documentary directed by Maurice O’Brien (Screen Ireland/ Screen Scotland/ RTE/ BBC Scotland/ BAI}
Would you die for your art? In the 'Artist and the Wall of Death', enigmatic Glasgow-based artist, Stephen Skrynka, becomes obsessed with transforming The Wall of Death, a century old fairground motorcycle spectacle, into a place of Art, risking life, limb and hard-won friendships along the way, but finally coming to understand that when Life knocks you to the ground, only Art can break your fall.
World premier at Galway Film Fleadh 2022, UK Premier at Glasgow Film Festival, International premier at Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.
Directed by Maurice O'Brien
Produced by John Kelleher, Grant Keir and David Power
Edited by John Murphy
Tx'd on RTE and BBC in Autumn 2023
‘TOMMY TIERNAN’S EPIC WEST’
Two part arts series for RTE, broadcast in December 2022
SERIES DIRECTOR: Maurice O’Brien
SERIES PRODUCER: Zlata Filipovic
Prod Company: Crossing the Line
https://www.rte.ie/culture/2022/1212/1341368-epic-west-how-we-made-tommy-tiernans-ultimate-road-trip/:
WATCH ON THE RTE PLAYER:
https://www.rte.ie/player/series/tommy-tiernan-s-epic-west/10001209-00-0000?epguid=IP000066433
LEAVING LIMBO
A clip from 'Leaving Limbo' - the inspiring story of best friends Minahil and Natasha as they prepare to sit their Leaving Cert, broadcast in RTE1 on New Year's Day, 2020. Directors: Maurice O’Brien and Cara Holmes.
‘THE ABBEY THEATRE - A RIOT OF THEIR OWN’
Observational documentary going behind the scenes of the Irish National Theatre as two new directors take charge promising a revolution…
Filmed and Directed by Maurice O’Brien
LIFEBLOOD FILMS FOR RTE Arts
‘PITCHING UP’
Ancient sports for children in Ireland's most ethnically diverse town.
Filmed, produced and directed by Maurice O’Brien
Guardian Documentaries
‘HEY RONNIE REAGAN’
Directed by Maurice O’Brien and produced with Marmalade Films for the Irish Film Board
World Premier at Tribeca Film Festival
Cinematic 1 x 10 mins short about Ronald Reagan’s 1984 visit to Ballyporeen. Official selection Cork, Dublin, Fastnet, Newport, Dallas, Sydney, Helsinki, IFI Films Fests, international premier at Tribeca 2018